Haitian citizen killed during migration operation in Verón

Emerger Rodeles, a 22-year-old Haitian citizen, died after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds during a migration operation in the Villa Playwood sector of Verón–Punta Cana. Images circulated showing the young man on the roof of a residence following the incident. While preliminary reports suggest he may have attempted to flee during the intervention by the Dirección General de Migración (DGM), authorities have not yet officially established who fired the shots or the exact circumstances of the shooting.

This incident follows a series of controversial migration operations in the Verón-Punta Cana area involving the DGM. Previous reported incidents include a 2023 case where a Haitian citizen was injured by pellets, a 2024 incident involving a worker allegedly thrown from a roof, and a 2026 case where a Haitian citizen died following a confrontation with a DGM lieutenant colonel. Local residents and human rights groups have frequently raised concerns regarding the use of excessive force during these interdiction efforts.