Dominicans vote in general elections with eyes on crisis in neighboring Haiti

Santo Domingo Dominican Republic — Voters in the Dominican Republic will vote Sunday in a general election that is likely to reinforce the government’s crackdown on its shared border with Haiti and the hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the violence-stricken nation.

Leading the presidential race is President Luis Abinader, who is seeking re-election as one of the most popular leaders in the Americas. If he exceeds 50% of the votes, he will win another mandate without going to a second round of voting.

Behind him are former president Leonel Fernández and mayor Abel Martínez. Dominicans also vote in legislative elections.

Abinader’s anti-corruption agenda and his drive to grow the Dominican Republic’s economy have resonated with many of the Caribbean nation’s 8 million voters. Much of his popularity, however, has been fueled by the government’s harsh repression against Haitians and the border the Dominican Republic shares with its crisis-stricken neighbor.

“This immigration problem worries me, because we are seeing a massive migration from our neighbor and it feels like it is out of control,” said Perla Concepción, a 29-year-old secretary, adding that migration was her main concern as she goes to the polls. .

The Dominican Republic has long taken a hardline stance toward Haitian migrants, but those policies have intensified since Haiti went into free fall following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. As gangs terrorize Haitians, the The Dominican government has built a border wall similar to Trump’s along its 400-kilometer (250-mile) border. He has also repeatedly urged the United Nations to send an international force to Haiti, saying that action “cannot wait any longer.”

The government also rejected calls to build refugee camps for those fleeing violence and carried out mass deportations of 175,000 Haitians just last year, according to government figures. While the policy is popular with voters, it has drawn harsh criticism from human rights organizations who call it racist and a violation of international law.

“These collective expulsions are a clear violation of the Dominican Republic’s international obligations and put the lives and rights of these people at risk. Forced returns to Haiti must end,” wrote Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International. in an April report.