Twelve drivers of Dominican nationality were arrested yesterday by members of the armed forces for human smuggling. Vehicles transporting Haitians were seized and drivers sent to court for enforcement of the penalties provided by law.

General José Francisco Gil Ramirez, head of Northern Command, of the armed forces based in Santiago, said that 135 Haitians had been arrested and handed over the immigration authorities for repatriation to their countries of origin. In this procedure, a military source reports that smuggled weapons were seized.

Gil Ramirez said that these operations are conducted jointly with the health services that are able to check people infected with cholera. Indicating that these interventions were not performed in Santiago or in the southern neighborhoods of the city, but on highways and roads in the Northwest, included in the health corridor established along the border by the Ministry of Public Health to prevent the spread of cholera. Recalling that military patrols track down relentlessly illegal traffickers of illegal immigrants and illegal in this corridor.

These arrests are added to those of at least 200 other Haitians in the Cibao region [which extends from the town of Monte Cristi, in the west to the Bay of Samana, in the east] that were sent to the Direction of Immigration for repatriation.

For his part, Vice Admiral Sigfrido Pared Pérez, Director General of Immigration reported the repatriation of more than 150 illegal immigrants from the region of Santiago and the National District. Regarding the claims of some residents of neighborhoods south of Santiago, which threaten to deport the Haitian in irregular situation, General José Francisco Gil Ramirez warned the Dominican population to act within the law, reminding them that only the competent authorities, armed forces and immigration, can make such expulsions. Moreover, he warned farmers and construction contractors to refrain from employing illegal Haitian and warned drivers who transport illegals that "they will be arrested and prosecuted". The General said that in the coming days repatriations of Haitians living illegally in the country would intensif, except for students and workers who can show to the authoritie their residence permits or document in good standing.

See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2035-haiti-social-haitians-from-santiago-repatriates-starting-from-january-6th-2011.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2032-haiti-social-wave-of-arrests-of-haitian-in-barahona.html

HL/ HaitiLibre