PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) – Haiti says it has conducted a voluntary repatriation operation for 720 of its nationals after the Dominican Republic government ordered the complete demolition of the houses in the illegal Haitian ghetto of Mata Mosquito, better known there as “Pequeño Haiti”.

The Haitians, who had taken refuge in rugged terrain and ravines to escape harassment by Dominican immigration agents, were able to travel on buses for their voluntary return to the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

The operations had been supervised by the Haitian Consul in Higüey, Wenceslas Lambert, who coordinated the details on the ground until the nine buses departed along Boulevard de l’Est, heading towards the official border crossings of Dajabón, Comendador, and Pedernales.

The operation benefited from the support of the Zilé Foundation through former ambassador Edwin Paraison and Dr Joseph Chérubin and his team from the Social Movement for Sociocultural and Environmental Work (Mostha).

Nearly 300 agents from the Directorate General of Migration (DGM) were deployed to “facilitate” the departure of the Haitians. A DGM unit also headed the bus convoy.

On Sunday, several Dominicans protested against the presence of illegal Haitians in the country as they backed President Luis Abinader’s decision to demand ID documents from those seeking hospital or maternity care.

Protesters carried signs reading “Expel them already,” “The Dominican Republic is for Dominicans,” and “We’re fed up” at the demonstration near the presidential palace.

President Abinader has taken a tough line on migration from Haiti since coming to power in 2020. Earlier this month, he unveiled a new protocol requiring medical staff to ask foreigners for identification documents, a letter from an employer, proof of residence and payment for their care.

Last Monday, 87 women and 48 children were arrested in hospitals and maternity wards across the Dominican Republic, with more than half of those being pregnant women, according to official figures. The rest had recently given birth.