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Santo Domingo. - The Immigration yesterday repatriated 75 Haitians who crossed the north border illegally and went to different cities, mainly in Santiago, Salcedo and Tenares.
Among them were women, adolescents and children who were brought by a cross-border people trafficking network to use them as beggars in the streets.
Army troops watched over the detainees as Immigration officials investigated each case to verify the foreigners’ legal status prior to repatriation. The Haitians detained while selling fruit, snacks and trinkets in the streets couldn’t prove their legal permanence.
The presence of Haitian immigrants is so high in Tenares, Salcedo, La Vega, Santiago and other Cibao (north) towns that the region’s residents have voiced their concern and requested the operation, said Immigration officials who took part in the detentions and repatriations.
Most of the deportees entered the country in the last few months and some admitted having paid more than RD$3,000 to groups of people traffickers who operate on both sides of the North border.
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If the Dominican government really wants to stop this trafficking it has to seal the border in earnest.
It is a never ending revolving cycle of cross border traffic that has become a self sustaining illicit business for the traffickers and the border guards who are paid to look the other way. A govt. closure of the border is not going to happen as it would be the end of the pay days for the underpaid troops, migration authorities; and would deny the unscrupulous higher ups a cut of the action from their subordinates.
A serious attempt to regulate border traffic would be for the government to be transparent enough to recognize it cannot contain the illegal trafficking, that it needs an unbiased third party to control the border, such as the U.N. troops already present in Haiti.
So for the future all that we are going to get are stories of: illegals crossing the border, illegals breaking the law, government roundups of illegals, and politicians lambasting the illegals.
When I read 75,000, then it'll be worth making the paper.
Ha, Ha, Ha, LOL, I just could not stop laughing, when I read the heading of the article. Come on 75 Haitians, That will really put a dent on the immigration problem.
Lets run the number one more... 75H minus 2,000,000 Million H Equals 1,999,9925 H
Why is this a significant news given the low numbers??? Why bother!
PS (H = Haitian)
"TO GROUPS OF TRAFICKERS THAT OPERATE ON ( BOTH ) SIDES OF THE NORTHERN BORDER"
We need a real cesfront to be well paid military corps preferably from El Cibao and to actually be completely opposed to the entry of Haitians into DR unless all requirements are met.
Anybody found trafficking in Haitians should be court marshaled and jailed and any soldiers who show any pro Haitian sentiments should either be expelled or moved away from the border.