Haitians Face Uncertain Future After Deportation from the Dominican Republic
Mireille’s Story
Pregnant, exhausted, and clutching a small bag containing all her remaining belongings, Mireille* stood under the relentless heat of the Haitian sun, unsure where to turn. She had just been deported from the Dominican Republic, the country she had called home since the age of eight.
Haiti, her birthplace, is now defined by rampant gang violence and deepening humanitarian, political, and economic crises. “I was deported to a country I never lived in,” she said, consumed by a mix of anger and despair.
The Dominican Republic had been Mireille’s home for nearly 30 years—a place where she built a life, formed relationships, and created lasting memories. But in an instant, she was uprooted and forced into a country she barely recognized. Her ordeal began five days earlier when she was detained in the early hours of the morning and taken to an overcrowded, uncomfortable detention center. There, she spent several days before being transported to the border.
“When I arrived in Haiti, I was terrified and completely lost,” Mireille recounted. “I don’t know this country, and I’m struggling to figure out where to start. It’s overwhelming.”
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Guerson and Roselène: A Family Displaced
For over a decade, Guerson and Roselène* lived in the Dominican Republic, establishing their lives in Loma de Cabrera, a town near the border with Haiti. Guerson worked tirelessly as a mechanic, repairing cars, motorbikes, and farm equipment. His skill and reputation in the community were sources of pride. “People trusted me with their vehicles,” he said. “It was hard work, but I could care for my family.”
Meanwhile, Roselène managed their modest household and earned extra income by selling patés and fried plantains to their neighbors. Their life was simple, but it provided stability for their young son, Kenson, who attended a local preschool. “I felt so proud when Kenson learned to write his name,” said Roselène.
But their stable existence was abruptly upended when Dominican authorities arrived unannounced. “My children didn’t understand,” Guerson shared. “Kenson asked if we were going on a trip. I didn’t have the heart to explain the truth.”
The family was loaded onto a deportation truck. “I held my baby so tightly,” Guerson recalled. “I was terrified the journey would cost us our lives.”
When they crossed the border into Haiti, they were met with chaos. In Ouanaminthe, a town overwhelmed by the sharp rise in deportations, resources to address the growing crisis were stretched thin. Families, clutching bags and children, stood on dusty streets with no direction. “We stood there for hours, lost,” said Roselène. “The children were starving, and I had nothing to offer them.”
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A Crisis in Haiti
Mireille, Guerson, and Roselène are three of the over 200,000 Haitians forcibly repatriated in 2024, with 97% coming from the Dominican Republic. In the first two weeks of January 2025 alone, nearly 15,000 people were sent back across the border.
Those deported return to a nation in turmoil. Armed gangs control significant portions of Haiti, including key roads leading to and from the capital, Port-au-Prince. Years of violence have displaced over 700,000 people, pushing them into makeshift shelters, such as abandoned schools and churches. These precarious locations often lack food, water, and healthcare, leaving many vulnerable.
Today, nearly half of Haiti’s population—5.5 million people—rely on humanitarian aid to survive.
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Assistance for Returning Migrants
Despite these dire circumstances, returning migrants are not entirely alone. The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) partners with the Support Group for the Repatriated and Refugees (GARR) to provide critical support to deportees.
Services include immediate assistance such as psychosocial counseling, health referrals (including prenatal care), and distribution of essentials such as clothing and hygiene supplies. For the most vulnerable, temporary accommodations are offered, allowing families to rest and plan their next steps.
Unaccompanied children are reunited with family members, and survivors of gender-based violence are provided with specialized care. The IOM also collaborates with Haiti’s Office National de la Migration (ONM) to register returnees and assess their individual needs.
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A Hopeful Yet Uncertain Future
For many returnees, the future remains uncertain. Haiti’s economic and security challenges force families to navigate life in survival mode. Yet, some deportees remain hopeful.
Guerson and Roselène, while grappling with their new reality, still dream of one day returning to the Dominican Republic.
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