Congressmen value US ambassador’s show of respect for DR’s migration policy

They react to pressures from the Biden era to open the border with Haiti

Santo Domingo. – Congressmen valued this Wednesday the statements of the United States ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Leah Campos, who revealed that the US immigration policy had chain effects on the region in the administration of Joe Biden, exerting pressure for the Dominican Republic to keep its border with Haiti open in times of high tension. The deputy of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), Soraya Suárez, views it as positive that the United States ambassador, Leah Campos, acknowledged the pressure exerted in Joe Biden’s administration to keep the border with Haiti open and that she is now committed to respecting Dominican migration policy. He highlighted that Campos is “a very prepared woman… who believes that each country owns and is responsible for its citizenship“, in addition to highlighting the support that the United States will give to the country from now on in border and security matters. Regarding the Haitian situation, Suárez stated that the priority is to continue reinforcing the border and promote actions that help the stabilization of Haiti. Senator Dagoberto Rodríguez acknowledged that the pressure to keep the border with Haiti open is not a recent phenomenon and recalled that in previous governments there were also failures in the application of the Migration Law. He pointed out that during the administration of Leonel Fernández “it took 7 years to make the regulations of the migration law“, which allowed a massive entry of Haitians, and that something similar happened in the administration of Danilo Medina.

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Regarding the future of migration policy, he maintained that the fundamental thing is for countries willing to help to unite to address the Haitian crisis, stating that this people “have been left adrift“. He considered that a multilateral response is indispensable and supported the international community taking the lead in any intervention that seeks to stabilize Haiti. On his part, Congressman Ignacio Aracena welcomed Ambassador Campos’ admission and highlighted that if the diplomat made such a statement it is because “she has sufficient data and the authority to do so“. He also stressed that her position reaffirms Washington’s commitment to the measures adopted by the Dominican Government to guarantee national security and prevent irregular migration from further aggravating the internal situation. During his intervention at the American Chamber of Commerce luncheon (AMCHAMDR), Campos assured that one of his priorities will be to promote, together with President Luis Abinader and the private sector, initiatives that contribute to the stabilization of Haiti, a country whose crisis —he said— represents risks for both Santo Domingo and his country.

“Haitian instability threatens the security of the Dominican Republic and the United States. My commitment is to work with President Abinader and the private sector in the search for solutions that reduce that threat and help Haitians to live in a peaceful and safe country,” the diplomat expressed.