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Dominican Republic arrests women and children in crackdown Dominican Republic detains pregnant Haitian women in hospital swoop
(about 8 hours later)
Many of the women arrested were pregnant and others had recently given birthMany of the women arrested were pregnant and others had recently given birth
The Dominican Republic says it has arrested more than 130 Haitian women and children on the first day of a crackdown of undocumented migrants in Santo Domingo's hospitals. The Dominican Republic says it deported more than 130 Haitian women and children on the first day of a crackdown on undocumented migrants in hospitals.
Many of the women arrested on Monday were pregnant and others had recently given birth. Dominican authorities said 48 pregnant women, 39 new mothers and 48 children were removed on Monday.
The crackdown is part of the government's plan announced last year to deport up to 10,000 undocumented migrants a week to stem migration from neighbouring Haiti. The swoop is one of 15 measures announced by President Luis Abinader to cut the number of undocumented migrants in his country, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.
President Luis Abinader's government, however, has been criticised for its harsh treatment of Haitian migrants as many are fleeing extreme gang violence and poverty in the capital Port-au-Prince. Abinader's government has been criticised for its harsh treatment of Haitian migrants, many of whom are fleeing the extreme gang violence in their country.
The immigration department said the women were "offered dignified treatment" after being taken to a detention centre where their biometric data and fingerprints were recorded. Those deported were taken to a detention centre to have their biometric data and fingerprints taken, before being handed to Haitian authorities at the Elías Piña border crossing.
A Haitian woman who had accompanied her pregnant friend to the hospital said the government's actions will cause uncertainty for pregnant women in need of care. The Dominican immigration department said the women and their children "were treated with dignity and given food".
"If a woman gave birth today, they can't take her today, because they don't know what will happen. And if she has a C-section, they don't know what is going to happen either, because there is never a doctor with her to assist if something happens on the road, with the baby or with her," she said. Immigration officials added that those detained were taken to the border in buses "with padded seats, safety belts, air conditioning, curtains, CCTV cameras, bathrooms, and a luggage area".
Authorities said the women will receive medical treatment and any undocumented mothers will be repatriated. Officials also said all were deported after they had been "discharged from hospital and there were no risks to their health".
Many Haitians have been crossing the shared border with the Dominican Republic to escape escalating violence and hunger, sometimes in several truckloads per day. However, the Dominican College of Physicians called the deportations "inhumane" and said that checking people's migratory status and detaining them in hospitals would lead to undocumented migrants being too afraid to seek urgent medical care.
To clamp down those numbers, the Dominican Republic has deported more than 80,000 people to Haiti in the first three months of this year, according to AFP news agency. At least half a million Haitians are estimated to live in the Dominican Republic, which has a population of 11m.
President Abinader's government has previously voiced its frustration at the international community's failure to restore stability to Haiti. One study suggests close to 33,000 Haitian mothers gave birth in Dominican hospitals last years.
Many Dominicans complain of the additional strain on public services, including health.
President Abinader said earlier this month that his country's "generosity will not be exploited", and that public hospitals would be required to check patients' IDs, work permits and proof of residence.
He said that those not in possession of the necessary papers would be deported after being treated.
The Dominican Republic has deported more than 80,000 people to Haiti in the first three months of this year, according to AFP news agency.
Rights groups have described the deportations as "cruel".
More than 5,600 people were killed in gang violence in Haiti in 2024 and many hospitals have had to close after being stormed by gang members.
On Monday, the UN special representative to Haiti, María Isabel Salvador, warned that a recent surge in gang violence meant the country was approaching a "point of no return".