Haitian killed, Dominican soldier injured in border wall incident

A Haitian national was killed and a Dominican soldier injured in an overnight incident near the border wall under construction in the southwestern province of Independencia, according to the Dominican National Police.

The soldier, identified as Private Luis Ángel Ferreira Medina of the Specialized Corps for Land Border Security (CESFRONT), is receiving medical treatment. The identity of the deceased Haitian has not yet been released.

Police spokesman Diego Pesqueira confirmed the altercation took place just before midnight Tuesday in an area where the Dominican Republic is constructing a nearly 400-kilometer smart border fence with Haiti. The area, near the municipality of Jimaní, has remained closed to cross-border movement due to ongoing instability in Haiti.

Preliminary reports indicate the incident involved CESFRONT personnel and a group of Haitians. Authorities are still investigating the circumstances and are awaiting a detailed report from the Dominican Armed Forces.

The incident highlights tensions in the border zone, where increased security measures have been in place amid Haiti’s deepening crisis. The Dominican government has long framed the border wall as a tool to curb illegal crossings, arms trafficking, and smuggling.