Dominican Republic Rejects Scrutiny on Deportations of Haitian Migrants

The Dominican Republic slams criticisms of its deportations of Haitian migrants. It even said that its government "profusely rejects" scrutiny of its migration crackdowns.

Authorities in Dominican Republic have increased its border enforcement and deportations of Haitian migrants. They claimed that such actions are needed for "national security amid intensifying turmoil" in Haiti brought on by the blockade of fuel supplies and the cholera outbreak.

The majority of the 43,900 migrants deported were Haitians. It was between July and October while deportation figures increased by around 50% in September and October alone.

The Dominican Republic's Ministry of Foreign Relations condemned the criticism, saying that the U.S. government had "no evidence" of any human rights violations. It added that the country lacks international support to handle the migration from Haiti.

The Dominican Republic's actions gained criticisms from the U.N. human rights chief, Haiti, and the U.S.

The U.S. embassy warned the Dominican Republic government's actions could pose a problem for "dark-skinned Americans and African Americans" traveling in the Dominican Republic. However, the United States did not call on the Dominican Republic to stop its deportation efforts.

Dominican Republic's Haitian Migrants Deportation

UNICEF noted that hundreds of children have been expelled from the Dominican Republic without their parents amid the government's effort to remove suspected undocumented migrants from the country.

The United Nations Children's Agency received at least 1,800 unaccompanied children delivered by Dominican immigration authorities into Haiti since the year started.

The agency's spokesperson noted that many arrived without identity documents and are shipped into the country amid adult deportees.

One researcher for the Dominican migration policy think tank Center for Migratory Observation and Social Development in the Caribbean, Yoana Kuzmova, noted that one woman had a diaper bag with her, but not the baby.

Kuzmova said that immigration agents had told the woman that she would not carry the baby with her and that they would bring the child to the bus. However, they did not bring the baby to the bus.

In October, 14, 801 people were sent to Haiti from the Dominican Republic based on Haitian aid organization Groupe d'Appui des Repatries et Refugies' records. It is an average of 477 people each day.

Haiti's Communications Ministry called on its neighbor to respect "human dignity" on Sunday, mentioning the images that have called attention to "inhumane and degrading treatment inflicted" on Haitians.

Haitian Migrants

On Monday, rescue personnel rushed to the Upper Keys after reports of a Haitian mass migration incident. The Monroe Sheriff's Office offered support to U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard.

Some of the state and federal agencies also responded to the scene. In addition, multiple ambulances and fire trucks went to the scene of the incident.

Authorities noted that 22 people had been rescued off an overloaded sailing vessel off Rodriguez Key.

Haiti is currently plagued with cholera outbreak and gang violence. The United Nations and Haiti are seeking $146 people to help fight the outbreak that has killed at least 175 people.

Dr. Jeanty Fils, a spokesman for Haiti's Ministry of Health, noted that the country needs more resources as cholera cases continue to climb in the country.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Dominican Republic steps up deportation of Haitian refugees - from Al Jazeera English