At least 412 undocumented Haitians were repatriated to Haiti over the past weekend, after being arrested by members of the Dominican armed forces and agents of migration, while trying to illegally cross the border for the Dominican Republic.

The illegal migrants were arrested while walking in the hills and through forested areas of the communities of Palo Blanco, Los Arroyos, La Aviación, Don Miguel, Cañongo, La Vigía, Sanché, Cerro Gordo, Batey Haulterio, El Huguero, Conuco, Nueva Judea, Puente Río Yaque, Castañuelas, Jobo Corcobado and other localities of the provinces of Dajabón and Montecristi.

Others were arrested when trying to bypass military checkpoints of los Miches, Santiago de la Cruz, Cruce de Copey, Cañongo among others. Some finally were arrested during control while trying to board public transport vehicles.

Most Haitians arrested said their intention was to travel to Santiago, Mao, Santo Domingo, the East, the North Coast and other areas of the country. They would have according to their testimonies, paid between 6,000 and 7,000 pesos to "poteas", of smugglers to guide them across the border and attempt to thwart military surveillance and immigration.

Some of the arrested migrants said that the entry of Haitians into Dominican territory will increase because of the measures of the Haitian Government which prohibits the entry into Haiti by road, of essential Dominican products, whose lack begins to be severely felt in some Haitian communities along the border.

Haitians officials of the Consulate in Dajabón and representatives of Dominican and Haitian organizations of human rights, oversaw the repatriation to Haiti and said they did not noted mistreatment to immigrants.

S/ HaitiLibre