On Monday April 21, 2025, at least four Haitian women in an irregular situation were arrested after giving birth in the maternity ward of the Jarabacoa municipal hospital in the Dominican Republic. The women, accompanied by their newborn babies, were arrested by immigration officers and Dominican police and taken to a local police van.
Background and migration policy
For several years, the Dominican Republic has applied a strict migration policy towards Haitian nationals, particularly in terms of access to healthcare. Haitian women in an irregular situation are no longer entitled to free public health services, including childbirth. Otherwise, they are obliged to pay private fees. This policy aims to limit Dominican public spending on foreigners, particularly pregnant Haitian women, and is accompanied by tighter border controls and regular repatriation operations.
Reactions and implications
The arrest of women in highly vulnerable situations, just after giving birth, raises humanitarian concerns and questions about respect for fundamental rights, particularly those of newborn children. The Dominican authorities nevertheless claim to respect international standards prohibiting inhuman or degrading treatment, but practices on the ground remain controversial, especially in view of the distress of migrant women and their children.
Health and social situation
This phenomenon is partly explained by the weakness of the health system in Haiti, which pushes many women to cross the border to give birth in better conditions in the Dominican Republic. However, current policies make this increasingly risky, with frequent arrests and deportations, even in critical medical situations.
Conclusion
The arrest of the four Haitian women in Jarabacoa takes place against a backdrop of hardening Dominican migration policy towards Haitian migrants, particularly pregnant women. This incident highlights the precariousness of migrants’ rights, and the need for an appropriate humanitarian response for the women and children concerned.