Homero Figueroa, spokesman for the Executive and Director of Strategy and Government Communication said: “This afternoon the Government has become aware of the extensive Report on Human Rights in our country, issued by the United States Department of State,” so we are studying the report, he added, and will respond at the appropriate time through the corresponding channels.

“However, we take the opportunity to express our astonishment at the aggressive and unfounded tone of the report, which does not reflect the current reality of human rights in the Dominican Republic, nor the close and respectful friendship between our governments,” said Figueroa, who stated that the Government of President Luis Abinader reiterates its commitment to respect human rights. “We are willing to engage in constructive dialogue with our friends” about any legitimate concerns in this area.

This Monday, local media outlets referred to the inclusion of the Dominican Republic in the annual report on human rights in the world published by Washington, according to which “significant changes” in human rights took place in the country, due to the “mass expulsion” of Haitians, regardless of their requests of legal status.

The United States considered that the closure of the border with Haiti in September 2023 by the government of the Dominican Republic and the subsequent suspension of the issuance or renewal of residence permits, visas, and asylum application certificates for Haitian migrants and persons of Haitian descent, including stateless persons, placed, the already vulnerable population, at greater risk.

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