Amnesty International has sharply criticized the Dominican Republic’s newly introduced health protocol, calling it discriminatory and a potential breach of international human rights obligations. The measures, introduced on April 6, 2025, impose documentation requirements and service fees for migrants seeking access to public healthcare—and mandate deportation following treatment for emergencies, childbirth, or hospitalization.
The 15-point protocol, presented by President Luis Abinader’s government, has triggered widespread condemnation from human rights groups who say it disproportionately targets undocumented migrants, particularly Haitians, as well as stateless persons, asylum seekers, and Dominicans of Haitian descent.
Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International, stated:
“President Luis Abinader must opt for measures that strengthen the health system. Implementing a system that exposes migrants to deportation after receiving medical care not only violates the right to health but also dehumanizes undocumented persons and will, in all probability, deter them from seeking hospital care, thus putting lives at risk.”
Amnesty argues that this policy effectively discourages vulnerable groups—especially pregnant women, children, and survivors of violence—from accessing essential healthcare, thereby undermining their rights to health, privacy, and physical integrity. The group further notes that the policy contradicts Article 61 of the Dominican Constitution, which guarantees universal and free healthcare access.
The organization also warned that forced returns following medical treatment may constitute “collective expulsion,” a practice forbidden under international law. Such expulsions could violate the 1951 Refugee Convention’s principle of non-refoulement, as well as the Convention against Torture and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Amnesty International issued an urgent action alert on April 21, 2025, demanding the repeal of these measures and an immediate halt to what it described as mass deportations. The group claims over 180,000 people—mostly Haitians—have been expelled since October 2024, amid escalating violence and instability in Haiti.
In parallel developments, Maria Isabel Salvador, UN Special Representative for Haiti, warned the UN Security Council on April 22 that the crisis in Haiti, driven by gang violence and political collapse, is “approaching a point of no return.” This worsening situation has led thousands to flee across the border into the Dominican Republic, placing additional strain on an already volatile migration and humanitarian landscape.
Sources:
- Amnesty International Urgent Action, April 2025
- Jurist Legal News & Research (Susmita Chaulagain, Kathmandu School of Law)
- UN Security Council Briefing, April 22, 2025
Dominican Republic National Palace Picture on Wikimedia by Jean-Marc Astesana
