Trade between Haiti and the Dominican Republic was suspended on Monday when several thousand Haitians were reportedly stranded on their side of the border, halted by authorities from crossing into Dominican territory.
Immigration Agency inspectors don’t allow the entry of the immigrants, many of whom reportedly spent the holidays in their country, and don’t have legal papers to cross into Dominican Republic.
The Jesuit priest Regino Martinez, who coordinates the NGO Border Solidarity heads a vigil to protest Immigration’s measure, and said most of the Haitians don’t figure in the list of immigrants allowed across the border, affirming that the list was changed.
The workers who come from different parts of Haiti’s northeast work in banana plantations and other crops in the Dominican side of the border.
Since early Sunday morning Border Security (CESFRONT) agents were deployed on the Dominican side of the border bridge near the Immigration Office.
The strong military presence had been bolstered by National Police Antiriot agents, who were removed several hours later, according to a source quoted by ElMasacre.com.do.
