Santo Domingo witnessed a significant bilateral meeting between Dominican migration authorities and Haitian diplomatic representatives to reinforce operational protocols governing border security and migrant treatment. Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester, Director General of Migration (DGM), convened with a Haitian delegation led by Minister Counselor Ralph Giraldo Raphael to systematically review interdiction procedures and detention center management standards.
The discussions centered on legal compliance with Migration Law 285-04, with Lee Ballester emphasizing the institution’s commitment to human rights protection during enforcement operations. The migration director articulated that all personnel—including supporting military and police units—operate under strict guidelines respecting the dignity of undocumented migrants while maintaining national security priorities.
Operational continuity formed a key part of the dialogue, with confirmation that nationwide interdiction measures would persist as components of the Dominican Republic’s comprehensive border management strategy. The officials detailed coordinated repatriation processes through designated border crossings at Dajabón, Elías Piña, Jimaní, and Pedernales, conducted during established binational operating windows with multi-agency coordination between migration control, armed forces, and security personnel.
The high-level meeting featured representation from both nations’ institutional frameworks. The Haitian delegation included immigration legal expert Dr. Hipólito Dolis, Consul General in Santiago Stephen Junior Cherefant, and consular officials Fito Zephieren and Marie Danielle Lundi. Dominican representation included General Pilot Juan Carlos Vicente Pérez and Colonel Manuel de Jesús Carrasco Guerrero, signaling the meeting’s strategic importance to both governments.