Appointment of Ambassador Leah Francis in the Dominican Republic strengthens diplomatic ties with the US, senators say

They expect their management to support the efforts of the DR in the face of the Haitian crisis

Santo Domingo. – The designation of Leah Francis Campos as the new representative of the United States diplomacy in the Dominican Republic, reinforces the diplomatic ties between both nations, highlighted congressmen from the Dominican Republic. In that sense, Senator Antonio Marte described the decision of the US Senate as positive and highlighted that the ambassador should focus on three key aspects: facilitating the requirements for obtaining visas, streamlining consular appointment processes, and providing support in managing the irregular migration of Haitian citizens to the country.

“I think the decision was correct, the selection was very important, she is a woman who qualifies for the position. The first thing is to seek fewer requirements for visas and another thing is to speed up the processes a little more,” he pointed out.

From her side, Senator María Mercedes Ortiz said that the appointment of Ambassador Campos not only reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the Dominican Republic, but also creates new ties for the strengthening of the Dominican economy. “We are very pleased with this designation that we have been waiting for months, as this reaffirms the commitment of the United States Government to continue expanding international policy. We are convinced that the designation of the ambassador opens bridges for the strengthening of the economy of the Dominican Republic,” said the legislator. Likewise, Senator Lía Díaz cited the good qualities of the ambassador and stressed that the credibility of the Dominican government has made it possible for the United States to designate its representative in the nation. “A lady with an excellent, family, religious background, a researcher and knowledgeable about border issues. She is a very competent person,” indicated the representative of Azua.

About Leah Francis Campos

The Dominican Republic had been without a diplomatic representative from the United States since January 2021, after the end of Robin Bernstein‘s term.

It should be remembered that the nomination of Leah Francis Campos was made on December 16, 2024, by President Donald Trump, just one month before beginning his second term in the White House. However, her confirmation was achieved through a block vote, along with more than a hundred of Trump’s pending nominations, which had been held up in Congress due to differences between Republican and Democratic senators.

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Leah Campos is the daughter of a Spanish mother and an American father of Mexican descent. She grew up in a Catholic and patriotic family. Campos began her career at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where she served as an officer for more than a decade, leading operations in Latin America and Europe. Subsequently, she worked in the U.S. Congress as a senior advisor to the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the House of Representatives between 2015 and 2019 Wikipedia. Since 2019, she has been a strategic advisor at the SAS Institute, focusing on Latin America, Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.