Latest news with #DominicanMedicalAssociation
Express Tribune
24-04-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Dominican Republic deports pregnant women and children to Haiti amid border clampdown
Listen to article The Dominican Republic has deported dozens of Haitian women — many of them pregnant or with newborns — along with children, as part of its sweeping immigration enforcement targeting undocumented migrants. Dominican authorities said 135 women and children were detained on Monday and transported to a migration holding centre before being returned to Haiti, a country beset by escalating gang violence and political instability. The mass deportations coincided with the enforcement of a contentious immigration policy introduced by Dominican President Luis Abinader, which mandates staff at National Health Service (SNS) hospitals to collect patients' identification, employment documentation, and proof of residency for verification by immigration officials present at the hospitals. According to officials, 33 public hospitals implementing the new rule. Authorities said deportations were carried out humanely, with medical checks conducted before the women and children were placed on buses. Health and human rights groups have condemned the measure, saying it threatens access to care. The Dominican Medical Association warned the policy could endanger lives, especially those of people seeking urgent medical attention. Amnesty International said the new rule could dissuade vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and children, from seeking help. 'This puts people's right to health, privacy, and physical safety at risk,' it said in a statement. The Dominican government ensure that no one will be denied for medical treatment, regardless of immigration status. But critics say the threat of deportation may already be deterring people from seeking care. Over the past six months, more than 180,000 people have been deported from the Dominican Republic to Haiti, where humanitarian conditions are worsening. Hospitals, schools, and essential services in Haiti are collapsing under pressure from rampant gang violence. One of the country's major health facilities, the University Hospital of Mirebalais, was recently evacuated after armed groups attacked the surrounding town. UN envoy María Isabel Salvador warned this week that Haiti is 'approaching the point of no return.' She called for urgent international support to avoid what she described as an impending societal collapse.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dominican Republic deports dozens of Haitian pregnant women and children in hospital crackdown
The Dominican Republic deported dozens of pregnant women, mothers who had just given birth, and children, back to crisis-ridden Haiti as it cracks down on illegal immigration. In a statement, Dominican authorities said the 135 women and children were taken to a detention center for undocumented migrants on Monday before being sent back to neighboring Haiti. The sweeping deportations come as one of Dominican President Luis Abinader's controversial immigration measures took effect, requiring staff at National Health Service (SNS) hospitals to ask patients for identification, a letter of employment and proof of residence, for immigration agents at the hospitals to verify. On Monday, 33 public hospitals braced for the new policy. SNS Director Mario Lama said those hospitals are where up to 80% of public hospital births involving foreign mothers take place. Dominican authorities say the women and children were detained because of the new protocol. They claimed in a press release that the deportees were treated humanely and with dignity, sent back on comfortable, safe buses only after they were discharged from the hospital and had a medical examination to make sure they were 'free of health risks.' Rights and health groups have criticized the move. The Dominican Medical Association said on Instagram such rigid deportation rules for people with medical needs could put their lives at risk. The Dominican government has stressed that noone would be denied medical care under the new protocol – but rights groups say patients in need of care may steer clear of hospitals in fear of deportation. 'These individuals face immediate deportation after receiving care. This puts people's right to health, privacy, and physical safety at risk—and discourages vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, children, and survivors of violence, from seeking essential medical treatment,' Amnesty International said on Monday. Over the past six months Dominican authorities have deported more than 180,000 people back to Haiti, a country plagued by gang violence that has seeped into every aspect of life. The Dominican Republic, which shares the Island of Hispaniola with its neighbor, has seen an influx of migrants fleeing violence in Haiti – where essential supplies are not keeping up with the population's needs and hundreds of schools have shut down. Dozens of health facilities have shut down in Haiti because of the insecurity, one of the latest being the University Hospital of Mirebalais. Late last month, gangs stormed the town, setting fire to buildings and posing a risk to the hospital, forcing it to evacuate its staff and patients, according to Partners in Health, the group supporting the hospital. The United Nations' top Haiti envoy María Isabel Salvador warned this week that Haiti is 'approaching the point of no return.' She added: 'Without timely and decisive international support, the violence will continue to escalate, and Haiti could face total collapse.' Jessica Hasbun contributed to this report.
CNN
23-04-2025
- Health
- CNN
Dominican Republic deports dozens of Haitian pregnant women and children in hospital crackdown
The Dominican Republic deported dozens of pregnant women, mothers who had just given birth, and children, back to crisis-ridden Haiti as it cracks down on illegal immigration. In a statement, Dominican authorities said the 135 women and children were taken to a detention center for undocumented migrants on Monday before being sent back to neighboring Haiti. The sweeping deportations come as one of Dominican President Luis Abinader's controversial immigration measures took effect, requiring staff at National Health Service (SNS) hospitals to ask patients for identification, a letter of employment and proof of residence, for immigration agents at the hospitals to verify. On Monday, 33 public hospitals braced for the new policy. SNS Director Mario Lama said those hospitals are where up to 80% of public hospital births involving foreign mothers take place. Dominican authorities say the women and children were detained because of the new protocol. They claimed in a press release that the deportees were treated humanely and with dignity, sent back on comfortable, safe buses only after they were discharged from the hospital and had a medical examination to make sure they were 'free of health risks.' Rights and health groups have criticized the move. The Dominican Medical Association said on Instagram such rigid deportation rules for people with medical needs could put their lives at risk. The Dominican government has stressed that noone would be denied medical care under the new protocol – but rights groups say patients in need of care may steer clear of hospitals in fear of deportation. 'These individuals face immediate deportation after receiving care. This puts people's right to health, privacy, and physical safety at risk—and discourages vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, children, and survivors of violence, from seeking essential medical treatment,' Amnesty International said on Monday. Over the past six months Dominican authorities have deported more than 180,000 people back to Haiti, a country plagued by gang violence that has seeped into every aspect of life. The Dominican Republic, which shares the Island of Hispaniola with its neighbor, has seen an influx of migrants fleeing violence in Haiti – where essential supplies are not keeping up with the population's needs and hundreds of schools have shut down. Dozens of health facilities have shut down in Haiti because of the insecurity, one of the latest being the University Hospital of Mirebalais. Late last month, gangs stormed the town, setting fire to buildings and posing a risk to the hospital, forcing it to evacuate its staff and patients, according to Partners in Health, the group supporting the hospital. The United Nations' top Haiti envoy María Isabel Salvador warned this week that Haiti is 'approaching the point of no return.' She added: 'Without timely and decisive international support, the violence will continue to escalate, and Haiti could face total collapse.' Jessica Hasbun contributed to this report.
