In light of the measures announced on 6 April by the government of Luis Abinader on migration, and in particular the protocol for the access of migrants to public health services in the Dominican Republic, Amnesty International stated:
“President Luis Abinader must opt for measures that strengthen the health system. Implementing a system that exposes migrants to deportation after receiving medical care not only violates the right to health, but also dehumanizes undocumented persons and will in all probability deter them from seeking hospital care, thus putting lives at risk,” in the words of Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International.
President Luis Abinader must opt for measures that strengthen the health system. Implementing a system that exposes migrants to deportation after receiving medical care not only violates the right to health, but also dehumanizes undocumented persons and will in all probability deter them from seeking hospital care, thus putting lives at risk
Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International
According to the measures announced, the new health protocol requires that migrants provide “identification, a letter of employment and proof of address”. In addition, it sets a fee for services and establishes that people with irregular migration status will be deported after receiving care.
The measures further reinforce the government’s defiance of the international obligations acquired by the Dominican state and the human rights recommendations issued to the country by international organizations. They also violate the Dominican Republic’s own constitutional principle on free and universal access to health, institutionalizing discrimination against all migrants, and in particular undocumented Haitians, asylum seekers, stateless persons and Dominicans of Haitian descent. Amnesty International has documented how barriers to accessing public services are especially critical for migrant children and pregnant women, who have been severely stigmatized for exercising their right to health and education.
“Amnesty International urgently calls on the government of Luis Abinader to immediately end the collective expulsions of Haitians and repeal the protocol linking access to health services with deportation. Instead, it must take concrete action against racial discrimination, guarantee access to international protection for people in need and ensure an environment that is free from stigmatization,” said Ana Piquer.
Amnesty International urgently calls on the government of Luis Abinader to immediately end the collective expulsions of Haitians and repeal the protocol linking access to health services with deportation. Instead, it must take concrete action against racial discrimination, guarantee access to international protection for people in need and ensure an environment that is free from stigmatization
Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International
Since October 2024, more than 180,000 people have been deported. This constitutes a practice of collective expulsions that is prohibited by international law. Amnesty International this week issued an urgent action demanding an end to the collective expulsion of Haitian migrants and the repeal of discriminatory migration policies that will disproportionately affect them. We call on the Dominican population to reject these cruel and racist measures.
