Amidst the rising tensions on the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, the Instituto Duartiano responded strongly to an article published by Vatican News, which it accused of being part of a campaign to discredit the Dominican nation.
The president of the Institute, Wilson Gómez, called the accusations of the Vatican media unfounded, which described more than a million Haitian migrants on Dominican soil as “refugees” in a situation of extreme vulnerability. The report, signed by journalist Greta Giglio, includes testimonies such as that of Sister María Eugenia Vázquez, who states that many pregnant Haitian women avoid hospitals for fear of being deported.
Gomez rejected these accusations, emphasizing that the country has historically provided humanitarian support to Haiti and that regularizing irregular migrants goes against the Constitution. Furthermore, he insisted that the long-term solution involves improving working conditions and reducing dependence on foreign labor.While the Luis Abinader government reinforces measures at the border, the internal debate intensifies. Some sectors demand more inclusive policies and the regularization of Haitian workers, while others, like the Instituto Duartiano, defend sovereignty and the right to control migration.
The Institute has also urged the State to launch a diplomatic offensive to counter what it considers a distorted narrative about the situation. In its recent symposium, they addressed issues such as border security, national sovereignty, and the need for a nationalist approach focused on unity, work, and progress.