In a targeted compliance operation across key commercial districts of the Dominican Republic’s capital region, immigration enforcement officials have raided 12 local food service outlets, the vast majority of which operate as popular Chinese-style fried chicken eateries. The sweep, which covered establishments along five major transportation and commercial corridors in Greater Santo Domingo, resulted in the detention of 38 Haitian nationals found to be living and working in the country with irregular immigration status.
Of the 38 people taken into custody during the operation, 34 are men and four are women. All were actively employed in the businesses at the time of the raid, working both in front-of-house sales roles and back-of-house kitchen positions, according to official details of the action. The inspection route targeted businesses across high-traffic locations: San Martín Avenue, Tiradentes Avenue, Nicolás de Ovando Avenue, Las Palmas Avenue, and the Old Road, the country’s historic primary route through the capital region.
Among the specific establishments inspected were Mechy Restaurant on San Martín Street, alongside smaller food outlets Expreso Siglo, Expreso Aurora, Expreso Wilsin, Mi Gusto, and D’ Gavy Pechurina. The raid also covered a cluster of fried chicken restaurants that are common fixtures in Dominican casual dining: Pica Pollo Expreso Kally, Pica Pollo Millón, Papa Pollo, Chino Pollo, Pica Pollo Salud, and Pica Pollo Rico Sabor.
Officials confirmed the operation was carried out to enforce compliance with the country’s General Migration Law across the capital’s commercial food sector. This enforcement action is part of a broader, routine inspection program carried out by the Dominican General Directorate of Migration. Under the authority of the country’s 285-04 Migration Law, the agency conducts regular checks of food businesses and other productive industries across all regions of the Dominican Republic to crack down on unauthorized employment and immigration violations.