Dominican Republic deports more than 226,500 Haitians in first seven months of 2026
Key Points(5)
- Dominican Republic immigration authorities deported more than 226,500 Haitians living in the country without legal status between January and the end of July, averaging about 1,000 deportations per day, according to the country's director general of migration.
- Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester disclosed the figures during a field meeting this week with the Observatory of Migration Policies (OPM), where he outlined the government's ongoing efforts to curb irregular migration.
- Lee Ballester said the General Directorate of Migration (DGM) deported about 380,000 Haitians in an irregular migration situation during 2025.
- He added that others voluntarily returned to Haiti with their belongings.
- He said migrants detained during immigration operations are taken to processing centers in Higüey, Haina, Santiago and Elías Piña before being repatriated.
Dominican Republic immigration authorities deported more than 226,500 Haitians living in the country without legal status between January and the end of July, averaging about 1,000 deportations per day, according to the country's director general of migration.
Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester disclosed the figures during a field meeting this week with the Observatory of Migration Policies (OPM), where he outlined the government's ongoing efforts to curb irregular migration.
Lee Ballester said the General Directorate of Migration (DGM) deported about 380,000 Haitians in an irregular migration situation during 2025. He added that others voluntarily returned to Haiti with their belongings.
He said migrants detained during immigration operations are taken to processing centers in Higüey, Haina, Santiago and Elías Piña before being repatriated. A new processing center in Jimaní is expected to become operational soon, while authorities are establishing a fund to open another facility in Pedernales.
Lee Ballester also said intelligence operations have identified Haitian-Dominican trafficking networks involved in smuggling migrants into the country.
According to the migration chief, authorities have identified routes, travel patterns and departure points used by the networks. About 15 people have been arrested and are under investigation for allegedly serving as leaders or guides for the smuggling operations.
He said investigators have also mapped routes used by migrants traveling on foot through various communities before reaching Santiago and other destinations within the Dominican Republic.
