Impact of deportations of haitian immigrants from the Dominican Republic on family remittances received and sent to/from Haiti:: 2015-2025

Abstract

The Dominican Republic is the main recipient of both regular and irregular Haitian immigration, and this has a significant impact on the economies of both countries, both through their contribution to the Dominican labor market and through the remittances they send and receive from the country. This is confirmed by data from the central banks of both the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which report that the Dominican Republic is the fourth-largest issuer of monetary transfers received by Haiti and the leading destination for remittances sent by our country to the world. The deepening economic, political, social, and institutional crisis in Haiti has generated a significant emigration of Haitians, mainly to the neighboring country on the eastern part of the island of Hispaniola, to the point that it is perceived as "overwhelming immigration." This has led Dominican authorities to intensify their policy of mass deportation and repatriation of Haitian immigrants who remain in the Dominican Republic irregularly. Currently, immigration authorities report that almost 50% of Haitian residents have been deported (201,892 people), a situation that has had a significant negative impact not only on the labor market but also on the remittances sent and received by these nationals. Therefore, this work serves as a warning against the vicious cycle of immigration and deportation, as it will affect families' and the country's economy, generating greater migratory pressure there.