Thousands of Haitian migrants are expelled every week at the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, a migratory crisis of renewed magnitude in 2025. These massive expulsions, orchestrated by the Dominican government, cause many family separations, with dramatic consequences for the populations involved. Despite international condemnations related to human rights violations and the difficulties faced by returnees, Haitian migrants continue to attempt the crossing, often clandestinely. These realities, although urgent, remain little known or hidden, affecting hundreds of thousands of people.
In this context, expulsions have reached unprecedented numbers: more than 220,000 Haitians have been forcibly repatriated from the Dominican Republic this year. Many of them testify to dehumanizing treatment, confirming practices that provoke widespread mobilization from humanitarian organizations. At the heart of the border, scenes filled with emotion and human pain unfold, where vulnerable people, sometimes isolated, are arbitrarily separated from their loved ones, as testified by an expelled migrant: “I was not able to see my children again before being taken away.”
This vivid portrait reveals the scale of this rapidly growing migratory crisis, where political pressures, humanitarian challenges, and struggles for migrant dignity intertwine. The phenomenon questions both the responsibility of states in managing migratory flows and the capacity of civil societies to respond to these challenges with solidarity and humanity.
Dominican migratory policy and the massive expulsion of Haitian migrants
Since a significant tightening of migratory policy in the Dominican Republic, expulsions of Haitian migrants to Haiti have intensified alarmingly. The Dominican government, under the presidency of Luis Abinader, has implemented strict measures aimed at expelling people in irregular situations, particularly Haitian nationals, who represent a significant part of the foreign workforce in the country.
Recent statistics reveal a worrying trend: more than 30,000 Haitians expelled per month have been recorded in recent months. This wave of expulsions relies on the argument of combating illegal immigration, delinquency, and economic pressure. However, the implementation of this policy is characterized by a large-scale operation that seems to neglect the fundamental rights of those expelled.
Bazelais Joissaint, humanitarian volunteer and head of an organization assisting migrants, regularly reports on scenes at the border. According to him, “procedures are often hasty, migrants are loaded onto coaches or trucks without families being able to regroup, nor even see their relatives before departure.” This situation causes a real social and emotional rupture for thousands of children, women, and men.
An in-depth analysis highlights several causes and effects of this policy:
- 📌 Increasing migratory pressure: the Dominican Republic faces a constant influx of Haitian migrants seeking work or fleeing insecurity in Haiti.
- 📌 Legislative tightening: adoption of stricter migratory laws aimed at regularizing the foreign presence on the territory.
- 📌 Control and expulsions: strengthening border controls symbolized by the Massacre River and multiplication of expulsion operations.
- 📌 Violation of fundamental rights: denunciation by NGOs of often inhuman treatment, lack of legal assistance, and precarious expulsion conditions.
| Key statistic 📊 | Data |
|---|---|
| Number of Haitian expulsions (2025) 🚍 | Over 220,000 |
| Monthly expulsions 📆 | On average over 30,000 |
| Travel time to the border 🕒 | About 3 hours |
| Population concerned 👪 | Women, men, children |
To explore these realities further, see the complete investigation published in Le Monde.
The human consequences of expulsions: family separation and trauma
The main hidden side of these massive expulsions is undoubtedly the forced separation of families. For many people, as testified by a moving account from an expelled mother, “I was not able to see my children again before being taken away.” This brutal separation is a source of psychological distress, worsened by transport and accommodation conditions at the border.
The consequences of this phenomenon manifest notably through:
- 💔 Separation of spouses and children: children left to fend for themselves, families scattered over several kilometers, without clear prospects for reunion.
- 😢 Post-traumatic stress: anxiety, depression, and despair among the expelled confronted with the harsh reality of forced return.
- 🏚️ Precarious return conditions: lack of access to basic services, often rudimentary housing in Haiti, which remains weakened by economic and political crisis.
- 📉 Loss of income sources: sudden interruption of economic activities, often informal, that the migrants held in the Dominican Republic.
A summary table synthesizes these human impacts:
| Human consequences 💔 | Details |
|---|---|
| Family separation | Spouses and children isolated, impossibility of regular communication |
| Psychological trauma | Post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety |
| Economic precariousness | Job loss, difficulties in meeting primary needs |
| Sanitary conditions | Lack of access to healthcare and insufficient nutrition |
This dramatic situation echoes in the reports of humanitarian NGOs, such as the Jesuit Service for Migrants (SJM), and is regularly denounced in the media, for example through the report by GAAR or also in the Haitian Times.
Legal challenges and protection of human rights during expulsions
One of the most critical elements in this crisis concerns compliance with international human rights standards. In 2025, several reports highlight that expulsions often occur in violation of the fundamental rights of migrants.
Haitian migrants are frequently deprived of legal assistance, and their cases are handled without guarantees of fair procedure. Several international NGOs, notably through platforms like the UN, alert about questionable practices related to expulsions:
- ⚖️ Absence of hearings or appeals during arrest and detention.
- ⚖️ Rapid deportations without sufficient verification of migratory status or eligibility conditions for residence.
- ⚖️ Inhuman conditions in detention centers and during transport.
- ⚖️ Non-respect of protections granted to refugees or vulnerable persons, such as minors or LGBTQ+ individuals.
These serious breaches raise ethical and legal questions, especially in a context where the Dominican Republic has ratified several international conventions but struggles to apply them in the migratory context. The following table summarizes the recorded violations:
| Type of violation 🚫 | Description |
|---|---|
| Arbitrary detention | Deprivation of liberty without adequate legal procedure |
| Expulsions without appeal | Lack of defense means or legal recourse |
| Mistreatment | Degrading conditions during detention and transport |
| Non-respect of rights of vulnerable groups | Discrimination against minors, pregnant women, LGBTQ+ |
To better understand this unstable legal context, articles from 76 Crimes France address intersecting discriminations, while news on France Info highlights abuses denounced by the migrants themselves.
Paths and strategies of Haitian migrants facing expulsions
Despite the brutality of expulsions and the difficult conditions at the border, many Haitian migrants try to return to the Dominican Republic as soon as possible. This dynamic generates a cycle of forced and clandestine displacements that further complicates migratory management and the living conditions of migrants.
These paths are often marked by:
- 🚶♂️ Clandestine returns: repeated attempts to cross the border despite the risks.
- 🛑 Smuggling networks: illicit organizations profiting from migrant vulnerability.
- 🤝 Local solidarity: aid provided by associations such as the Jesuit Service for Migrants (SJM) and Heritage for the Protection of Human Rights (HPDH).
- 📢 Public mobilizations denouncing expulsion conditions and calling for a more humane migratory policy.
This visible reality in Ouanaminthe, the main border point, is the stage of an incessant struggle between strict border control and the obstinate resistance of migrants. Throughout the year, migratory flows continue to intensify, reflecting a gap between state policies and human realities.
| Migrant strategies ➡️ | Impacts |
|---|---|
| Frequent clandestine crossings | Exposure to violence and arrests |
| NGO support | Support in rights, health, housing |
| Smuggling networks | Increased risk of exploitation |
| Demonstrations and protests | Media visibility and political pressure |
To deepen this aspect, also consult the analysis on RFI and the dossier on Le Monde 2024.
Humanitarian responses and future perspectives facing the Haitian-Dominican migratory crisis
Faced with this unprecedented crisis, several humanitarian actors work to mitigate the dramatic effects of expulsions. The Jesuit Service for Migrants (SJM), Heritage for the Protection of Human Rights (HPDH) and other organizations provide crucial support on the ground. Their work includes legal assistance, food aid, medical care, and psychosocial support to expelled migrants.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain immense. Insufficient resources, political pressures, and the prolonged instability context in Haiti complicate any durable solution. In addition, massive expulsions cause a cycle of forced displacement that fuels growing social precariousness.
Future perspectives must consider:
- 🌍 A concerted migratory policy between Haiti and the Dominican Republic to manage flows while respecting human rights.
- 🛑 Fight against abuse and corruption that hamper the protection of migrants.
- 🤲 Strengthening the role of NGOs in caring for vulnerable populations.
- 📚 Educational and economic programs aimed at creating local alternatives that limit forced exile.
| Priority axes for the future 🛤️ | Planned actions |
|---|---|
| Bilateral cooperation | Mechanisms for joint regularization and shared border management |
| Rights protection | International monitoring of migratory practices, human rights training |
| Humanitarian support | Material and financial strengthening of NGOs active in the border area |
| Local development | Projects for job creation and access to education |
For the latest information and ongoing coverage of this crisis, visit RTBF and discover testimonies from Haitian migrants during their forced return.
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The tightening of migratory policy in the Dominican Republic and the intensification of border controls have led to a spectacular increase in expulsions, which aim to reduce illegal immigration and economic tensions.
What are the main impacts on families of expelled migrants?
Expulsions often result in forced family separation, psychological trauma, economic precariousness, and limited access to essential services for the expelled.
How do humanitarian organizations intervene at the border?
They provide legal assistance, material support, medical care, and accompany expelled migrants psychosocially to mitigate the consequences of expulsions.
Are there legal pathways for Haitian migrants to remain in the Dominican Republic?
Pathways exist but are very limited; most migrants do not have regular residence permits, exposing them to expulsions.
What solutions could improve the migratory situation at the border?
Better bilateral cooperation, respect for human rights, local development actions, and strengthened support for NGOs could help manage this crisis in a more humane and sustainable way.