The United States has again urged the Dominican Republic to avoid mass deportations. The renewed call comes in the wake of emeriging reports of the resumption of the deportation of persons of Haitian decent from the Dominican Republic.
US Department of State spokesman Mark C Toner said Washington is “aware of the decision by the Dominican Republic to begin deporting persons who are deemed illegally present in the country.
He said in a statement that the US recognises the prerogative of the Dominican Republic to remove individuals from its territory who are present without authorisation, but at the same time, he urge the Dominican Republic to avoid mass deportations and to conduct any deportations in a transparent manner that fully respects the human rights of deportees. Toner said deportation procedures must adhere to clear, publicly available and verifiable protocols and procedures.
“Dominican nationality and migration policies and practices should be consistent with Dominican law and the Dominican Republic’s international obligations and commitments.
“We urge the Government of the Dominican Republic to permit the observation of deportation proceedings by civil society groups and international organisations, such as the International Organization for Migration and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, including at the borders,” Toner added.
Toner said the Obama administration remains “deeply concerned that individuals with a right to citizenship or otherwise eligible to remain in the Dominican Republic may not have had sufficient time and means to access the processes to regulate and formalise their status and have their claims adjudicated.
He said it is imperative that the Dominican Republic effectively screen people potentially subject to deportation, to determine if they are Dominican citizens, require international protection, or are eligible for naturalisation or regularisation.
In all cases, Toner urged the Dominican Republic to take adequate measures to prevent the risk of statelessness and the discriminatory confiscation of documents.
Additionally, the United States wants the Dominican Republic and Haiti to consult and collaborate with each other “to develop effective processes and procedures for the safe and orderly return of migrants across their shared border”.
According to Toner, the United States will continue to actively monitor developments in the Dominican Republic, and engage the Government of the Dominican Republic to ensure the protection of human rights.
On Saturday the Dominican Republic deported five people of Haitian descent under the controversial migration policy.
