The Observatory of Migration Policies (OPM) held a field meeting this week with Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester, Director General of Migration (DGM), who revealed that between 2026 and the end of July, more than 226,500 Haitians in an irregular migration situation in the Dominican Republic had been deported, an average of 1,000 people per day.

Luis Rafael Lee Ballester noted that in 2025, DGM teams deported 380,000 Haitians in an irregular situation, and that others also voluntarily returned to their country with their belongings.

He explained that undocumented immigrants apprehended during the checks are taken to processing centers located in Higüey, Haina, Santiago, and Elías Piña, revealing that the Jimaní center will soon be operational and that a fund is being established to open one in Pedernales.

He emphasized that intelligence work has led to the identification of Haitian-Dominican networks or organizations involved in trafficking Haitians. He specified that routes, patterns, and departure points have been identified, and that about fifteen people have already been arrested and are under investigation for acting as network leaders or guides. He added that routes have been established on foot, passing through various locations to reach Santiago and other destinations.

IH/ S/ iciHaiti