Dominican President Luis Abinader visits New York area

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader conducted a series of high-profile visits to the New York metropolitan area during his official trip for the United Nations General Assembly.

In Brooklyn, Borough President Antonio Reynoso welcomed Abinader to Borough Hall, marking the first official state visit by a Dominican president to the borough. To commemorate the occasion and the contributions of the local diaspora, Reynoso declared September 24, 2026, as ‘Día del Orgullo Dominicano’ (Dominican Pride Day) in Brooklyn.

In New Jersey, William Paterson University awarded Abinader its highest distinction, the President’s Medallion. University President Richard J. Helldobler recognized the president for advancements in governance, public safety, and digital transformation. During the ceremony, Abinader noted socio-economic progress in the Dominican Republic, including a reduction in general poverty from 26% in 2019 to 14.5% in the first half of 2026, and emphasized constitutional reforms designed to restrict indefinite presidential reelection.