Deported Because of Skin Color in The Dominican Republic

Targeted because their skin color is often darker, "Haitian-looking" people are frequently deported to Haiti within hours of their detention, causing families to be separated and children to be left behind. Suspected undocumented Haitians - including Dominicans of Haitian descent - have no fair opportunity to challenge their expulsion. Released on April 4, "'Illegal People': Haitians and Dominico-Haitians in the Dominican Republic," calls on the Dominican Republic to revise its deportation policies to ensure due process and to avoid race-based discrimination, to recognize the citizenship of Dominicans of Haitian descent, and to allow Haitian children to attend Dominican schools.