Defenders Plus Condemns Illegal Expulsions of Haitians and Calls for Moratorium on Deportations
A U.S. Border Patrol agent on horseback tries to stop a Haitian migrant from entering an encampment on the banks of the Rio Grande near the Acuna Del Rio International Bridge in Del Rio, Texas on Sept. 19, 2021
The Defenders Plus collective has condemned the actions of the Dominican authorities for illegally expelling over 3,500 Haitians, including women, minors, disabled individuals, and nursing mothers. The deportees testified to their poor conditions of detention and transportation, lacking proper identification documents. Human rights organizations and local authorities in Belladère and other border towns have received expelled individuals, who arrived hungry, thirsty, and in torn clothes.
The Defenders Plus collective highlights that these expulsions violate international human rights conventions and urges a moratorium on deportations during the ongoing security and humanitarian crisis in Haiti. They commend the community organizations for their efforts in welcoming and assisting the deported individuals in challenging circumstances.
