Debate on migration management and human rights at the UASD
The Migration and Human Rights Collective organized the “Solidarity Voices” forum at the facilities of the Faculty of Legal and Political Sciences of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD). The main objective of the meeting was to analyze the current migration policy in the Dominican Republic and foster an open dialogue about the challenges the nation faces in this area.
Guadalupe Valdez, representative of the entity, stressed that while the Dominican State possesses the sovereign power to regulate migratory flows and enforce its laws, this exercise must be carried out in strict adherence to the respect for human dignity and the fundamental rights of individuals.
Questioning controls in health centers
One of the central points of the debate was the rejection of the implementation of immigration controls within public hospitals. Valdez emphasized that health centers must prioritize medical care and not become spaces for the execution of immigration control policies, especially when it comes to pregnant women or people in vulnerable situations.
Hospitals, from an ethical point of view, cannot have an immigration authority. The immigration authority must be at the border, which is where the entry of people into the Dominican Republic should be regulated.
Guadalupe Valdez
The leader called on the authorities to strengthen surveillance in border areas, pointing out that this is where control must be concentrated to curb irregular entry, in addition to urging the State to combat corruption at transit points throughout the national territory.
Difficulties in regularization processes
During the event, concern was expressed regarding the bureaucratic obstacles faced by foreigners seeking to regularize their legal status. According to the Collective, the requirements currently demanded make it difficult for people with years of residence and work in the country to obtain their documentation, a situation aggravated by the crisis in Haiti and the limitation of consular services.
- Need to make processes more flexible for long-term residents.
- Impact of the lack of passports and consular services on regularization.
- Call for shared responsibility among States to guarantee the rights of their citizens.
Finally, Valdez reiterated that the collective’s intention is not to oppose the enforcement of the law, but to advocate for organized migration management that, in addition to being efficient, is respectful of human rights and aligns with the internal public policies of the Dominican State.
