Since Thursday, the Dominican immigration officers are on the streets across the country to check the immigration status of foreigners in search of all migrants in an irregular situation (from all nationality). 

Immigration inspectors, accompanied by military had already conducted foreign control operations, in the eastern area and arrested dozens of illegal immigrants who were brought immediately to the Reception Centre (Transit) of Haina.

Officially, the Directorate General of Dominican immigration, has begun to check the foreigners who have been refused by the National Plan for Regularization of Foreigners (PNRE) or who have not enrolled in the Plan and which in an irregular migratory situation on the Dominican territory.

Friday morning, the immigration inspectors and soldiers visited rural communities in the Eastern Region, Cibao and the National District of the province of Santo Domingo, to perform these control operations. Several illegal immigrants were arrested, having no document to prove that they were registered in the PNRE.

Brought to the Transit Center of Haina "we do identity verification, which is the first step, those illegal and those who are not in the regulation plan, we will do the repatriation process, in accordance with the law because the delay granted and concluded," explained Bernardo Jimenez, Director of Centre for Haina.

Friday morning, some of our compatriots, who were released, being registered in the PNRE, stressed the right treatment at the time of arrest and the quality of the welcome given to the Centre by the Dominican authorities. Remember that these centers, have housing and all facilities, in addition mobile units of the Government, are on site to provide if necessary: drink and food. Note that the centers are guarded by the army and closed to the public and the press. However, several UN vehicles were seen inside the Centre of Haina.

For the others arrested, twenty Haitian illegal, who had not managed to qualify in the PNRE, having filled their id folder in accordance with international conventions, were returned to Haiti aboard a minibus, in two groups of 10 and given to Haitian authorities to Elias Piña and Dajabon.

Until now, immigrants who were checked at Haina Center, are all Haitians. They were arrested among other on the base of Mirador Sur, Avenue Jose Contreras and 8 and 9 km of the Carretera Sanchez.

Recall that before the start of the repatriation, the Ministry of the Dominican Defence trained for several months, 2,000 soldiers who have learned Haitian Creole, human rights, the migration procedure, the use of biometric verification technologies, in addition to have achieved five simulation exercises along the Dominican-Haitian border.

SL/ HaïtiLibre