Video: Haitian migrants denied basic rights in Dominican Republic

At least half a million Haitians live in the Dominican Republic where they work principally in agriculture and construction. Fleeing the poverty of their homeland, they undertake poorly paid and arduous jobs that most Dominicans are unwilling to do. They face the constant risk of expulsion and systematic discrimination because of their race, skin colour, language and nationality.

Some 20,000 – 30,000 Haitians are expelled every year. Many of these expulsions breach international human rights law. Haitians and Dominico-Haitians are often rounded up and expelled with no chance to appeal, purely on the basis of their skin colour. Many have valid work permits and visas and some are in fact Dominicans, with no family ties in Haiti.