Dominican Republic tightens migration policies and border controls

The Dominican Republic is implementing a series of strict migration measures to increase territorial control and protect public services. Following a package of 15 measures announced in April 2025, the government has reinforced military presence on the border, expanded migration supervision, and introduced new protocols within the public hospital network.

These changes aim to address the prolonged crisis in Haiti and the resulting pressure on Dominican resources. The policy includes sanctions against those who facilitate irregular employment or housing. While the government defends these actions as necessary for national stability, social organizations and productive sectors have raised concerns regarding the economic and human impact on workers, families, and border communities.

In a related security matter, former Defense Minister Sigfrido Pared Pérez has called for an investigation into how Dominican Army ammunition ended up in the hands of armed groups in Haiti. This follows findings by United Nations experts documenting the presence of Dominican-origin munitions in Haitian territory. Pared Pérez emphasized the need to identify where military chain-of-custody controls failed.