Dominican Republic suspends new visas for these nationals

Authorities of the neighboring Dominican Republic's government took drastic measures in recent hours following events on their border. The government reported this week thatunes September 11 that it will not issue new visas to nationals of a country with which it has several problems, Haiti.

They also warned that they could completely close the border if the construction of a canal in Haitian territory, which is altering the course of the Masacre River, the natural border between the two countries, is not halted by Thursday of this week.

El Spanish President Pedro Sánchez’s announcement The suspension of visas for Haitian nationals came after a meeting of the National Security Council in which Dominican President Luis Abinader participated, and in which it was decided to maintain the border closure in the northwest of the island.

Dominican Republic suspends visas

Homero Figueroa, the representative of the Dominican Republic's Presidency, has stated that he has no relationship with those responsible for the diversion of the Masacre River, while the Haitian government claims that it is a private project. According to the Dominican Republic Dominican RepublicThis action violates several agreements signed by both countries, such as peace treaties and border protocols.

The Dominican statement states that the country's response "will be decisive in protecting national sovereignty and ensuring national security." Dominican military personnel have been guarding the Quisqueya border with their troubled neighbor for several weeks.

With this measure imposed, the situation of Haitians working in the Dominican Republic has become more complicated. Furthermore, President Abidaner has ordered the construction of a four-meter-high wall to separate the two countries and halt illegal immigration from Haiti.

To date, the Dominican Republic has repatriated more than 170 Haitian nationals to Haiti, and the situation could become more tense later this week if construction of this canal continues and the dispute between neighbors continues.