STATELESS PERSONS: HAITIAN IMMIGRATION TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF STATELESSNESS IN THIS PROCESS

Abstract. Haitian stateless persons in the Dominican Republic represent a marginalized and vulnerable community whose situation results from complex historical, political, and social factors. Statelessness, or the condition of lacking legally recognized nationality in any country, has been a persistent problem for many Haitians who migrated to the Dominican Republic in search of better living conditions. The significant presence of Haitians in the Dominican Republic dates back decades and has been driven by factors such as extreme poverty, natural disasters, and political instability in their country of origin. Many Haitians found work in agriculture, construction, and domestic services, contributing to the Dominican economy. However, nationality and citizenship for Haitians in the Dominican Republic became increasingly problematic, especially after a controversial 2013 decision by the Dominican Constitutional Court, which retroactively deprived thousands of descendants of Haitians born in the Dominican Republic of the right to Dominican citizenship. This resulted in a humanitarian crisis in which many Haitians and their descendants found themselves without legal recognition of nationality, effectively becoming stateless. The consequences of this statelessness are broad and alarming. Stateless persons face widespread discrimination, difficulties in accessing basic services such as health and education, labor exploitation, and the constant threat of detention and deportation. Many live in conditions of extreme poverty and vulnerability, without legal protection or state support. International human rights organizations have repeatedly denounced the situation of Haitian stateless persons in the Dominican Republic, calling on the Dominican government to respect their human rights and take measures to resolve their statelessness. Despite international pressure, however, the situation remains unresolved, leaving many Haitians and their descendants trapped in legal limbo and facing serious human rights violations.

Keywords: Statelessness; Haitians; Dominican Republic; Human rights; International organizations

Paper published in the Proceedings of the III International Congress on Brazilian Academic Migration and Diaspora (CIMDAB 2024), held on July 25-27, 2024, at the University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.

Editorial note: affiliation not confirmed safely from the available source.