Santiago Migration Raids Detain 430 Haitians

The General Directorate of Migration (DGM), the Dominican Republic’s agency responsible for immigration control, detained 430 Haitian nationals in irregular immigration status during enforcement operations carried out in Santiago province from September 7 through September 14.

The operations covered several neighborhoods in Santiago as well as municipalities across the province. The DGM said its teams checked the immigration documentation of people encountered during the interventions and allowed those who demonstrated regular status to continue, while those unable to establish their legal status were detained.

Operations Covered Santiago Neighborhoods And Municipalities

Migration teams carried out interventions in areas including Pekín, Ensanche Bermúdez, Bella Vista, Nibaje and Los Salados Viejos. The operations also extended to Puñal, Cienfuegos, Las Canelas and Licey al Medio.

The DGM’s intelligence and rapid-response teams worked with the Dominican Armed Forces and National Police, which provided logistical and security support during the operations. The agency said the deployment formed part of its ongoing immigration-control activities across the country.

Santiago Accounted For 4.4% Of National Detentions

The 430 detentions reported in Santiago represented approximately 4.4% of the 9,788 foreign nationals detained nationwide during the same seven-day period. The figures illustrate that the Santiago operations formed part of a broader national enforcement campaign rather than an isolated provincial effort.

According to the DGM, 7,968 of the 9,788 people detained nationwide during the period were deported through the country’s different border crossings. The agency did not provide a separate breakdown in its announcement showing how many of the Santiago detainees were subsequently deported.

Document Checks Remain Central To The Operations

The DGM said its officers reviewed the documentation of people encountered during the operations before determining whether enforcement action was warranted. Individuals who demonstrated that they had regular immigration status were allowed to continue, according to the agency.

The distinction is relevant because the operations are officially described as immigration-control measures focused on identifying people who cannot establish lawful status in the country. The DGM said its actions are being conducted under the Dominican Republic’s existing legal framework governing immigration and the presence of foreign nationals.

The agency said it will continue carrying out similar operations in Santiago and other provinces. The latest figures therefore form part of an ongoing national enforcement effort, with the DGM continuing to coordinate its field operations with security institutions.