The Dominican government announced a plan to immediately start deporting up to ten thousand undocumented Haitians per week and to enhance border security measures. Officials claim this response is necessary due to the international community's lack of effective action to address Haiti's crisis, stating the situation is unmanageable and threatens Dominicans’ welfare. Officials have pledged to uphold human rights standards during deportations. At the same time, this plan has faced significant criticism from human rights organizations, who have called these deportations illegal and contrary to international law and expressed serious concerns for Haitians’ human rights. The plan was announced in response to the rapidly growing number of Haitian migrants and resulting societal unease. This unease culminated in demonstrations led by the far-right nationalist group, Antigua Orden Dominicana, on 27 September, urging the government to take swift action on the matter.

Sources: BBC, Presidencia de la Republica Dominicana, Listin Diario, Amnesty International, France 24

President Luis Abinader has presented a bill to amend the country’s constitution, which he argues will enhance transparency and strengthen democratic institutions. One of the key objectives of the proposal is to enshrine a two-term limit for the presidency. The reform also seeks to unify the calendar for presidential, legislative, and municipal elections (currently held on different dates), and to reduce the number of representatives in the Chamber of Deputies from 190 to 137. Furthermore, the reform seeks to strengthen the independence of the Public Prosecutor's office, narrowing its focus to criminal prosecution and transferring other legal responsibilities to a newly created Justice Ministry. According to the office of the presidency, the proposal was drafted after consultations with a diverse group of stakeholders. Given the strong majority of the ruling Partido Revolucionario Moderno (PRM) in Congress, the bill has a high likelihood of passing.

Sources: Presidencia Republica Dominicana, Diario Libre, CNN

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, candidate for the Modern Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Moderno, PRM), won re-election for a four-year term in the 19 May general election. He secured 57.4 per cent of the vote, defeating former President Leonel Fernández, who received 28.9 per cent, and Abel Martínez with 10.4 per cent. The country also elected 32 senators, 190 members of the Chamber of Deputies and 20 deputies for the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN). The PRM gained a large majority in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, obtaining 142 out of 190 seats in the lower chamber and 24 out of 32 seats in the Senate. The election also yielded 70 women, including the Vice-President, deputies, and senators. Women now hold 35.2 per cent of the lower chamber, an improvement from the 27.9 they held after the last election. As polls had predicted, Abinader's victory was confirmed in the first round. Turnout was at record low with 46 per cent of voters abstaining.  Abinader has emphasized that this will be his final term, rejecting any constitutional changes to extend his presidency. 

Sources: El Pais, Listin Diario, Junta Central Electoral, Tendencias Dominicanas

The construction by Haiti of an irrigation canal in a river shared with the Dominican Republic has caused tension among both countries. The Dominican government argues that such construction is contrary to a joint declaration issued years prior about the shared nature of the river, and the right of both nations to access it. Calling it a “provocation”, the Dominican Republic decreed the closure of its land, air and maritime borders, and announced the suspension of visas to Haitians.  

The closure impacts the serious humanitarian situation in Haiti, as around a quarter of food in that country is imported from the Dominican Republic and significant amounts of medical and other supplies also come from the latter. Experts have also noted that while the closure will more likely impact Haiti the most, Dominican workers and business will also be affected. The UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti has questioned the compatibility of this measure with human rights and called on the Dominican Republic to reconsider; it further called the government to end ill treatment and forced return of migrants to Haiti. 

Sources: United Nations, The New York Times,   Diario Libre