A Dominican migration agent escorts a Haitian woman to a deportation bus in Santo Domingo. (Photo by Erika SANTELICES / AFP)
ID checks in Dominican hospitals trigger mass deportation
Deportees removed after hospital discharge
On the day the new rule took effect, 135 women and children were held and processed for deportation. Dominican officials stated the group was discharged following medical evaluations confirming they were cleared for travel. Transportation was provided in standard buses following temporary detention.
Medical care was reportedly not denied during hospitalization, but individuals without proper documents were identified during their stay and removed post-treatment.
Concerns raised over patient safety and care access
Medical professionals and humanitarian organizations have responded with concern. The Dominican Medical Association issued a statement warning that the policy puts vulnerable patients at risk and could discourage people from seeking treatment during emergencies.
Amnesty International criticized the immediate post-treatment removals, saying the practice undermines patient rights to health, privacy, and protection. The organization highlighted the risks for pregnant women, children, and those recovering from childbirth who may avoid hospitals out of fear of being detained.
Migration controls tighten amid regional instability
Haiti continues to face deep insecurity, worsening living conditions, and the shutdown of essential services. Over the past six months, more than 180,000 people have been returned from the Dominican Republic, a number that includes thousands of women and children fleeing violence and economic hardship.
Public institutions in Haiti, including hospitals and schools, remain under pressure. Armed groups recently advanced on the town of Mirebalais, prompting the University Hospital of Mirebalais to evacuate its staff and patients. The hospital—one of Haiti’s key healthcare centers—ceased operations after buildings were attacked and fires were set nearby.
International warnings over humanitarian decline
María Isabel Salvador, UN Special Representative for Haiti, described the situation as nearing collapse. She warned that escalating violence, the breakdown of services, and the absence of structured governance could push the country into irreversible crisis unless outside assistance arrives soon.
Dominican officials maintain that their new enforcement measures are within legal bounds. Medical screenings and dignified transportation have been emphasized in official statements.
However, growing scrutiny from health groups, rights monitors, and regional observers is bringing renewed attention to the implications of medical-based immigration enforcement.
No comment has been made on whether additional hospitals will expand the ID checks or whether similar actions will follow.
