Dominican Republic-
A statement was released from Dominican church leaders, from the Ecumenic Caribbean Conference for Migrations, on the situation of Haitians and Dominicans with Haitian heritage in their country. Among the proposals of the church leaders there is the requirement to review as soon as possible the practical exercise of migration policies,
for the implementation of a migration control that is fair and respectful, as provided by the current legislation of the country on the topic.
They also ask that, when aprehending migrants, respect be shown to both legal and illegal migrants, so there is no abuso o mistreatment or violation to human dignity.
The questions of the document are very important since they are related to biblical texts: here are some:
Which is the moral basis that supports our right to legitimate a migration control that violates the Haitian migrant’s human dignity in Dominican Republic?
“There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court and detest the one who tells the truth” (Amos 5;10)
How can we morally establish a legal control if, at the same time, within the responsable authorities to apply it, there are those who are part of a mafia, that using force, promote the migraton currents in the four border crosses of the country?
“Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land,”(Amos 8, vers. 4).”“buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat” (Amos 8, vers. 6).Aren’t we, the Domenicans, migrants in risk of life, seeking to improve the life conditions in other countries?
If the efforts of the Government and the people are together to uphold generosity, hospitality, solidarity and welcoming as universal symbols from the Dominican people of international and local human quality as an example before the neighbouring country, the countries of landlocked Caribbean, and other countries of the continent and outside. Then, we could send a new Message- Sign to the world, which could stop the negative current picture within and outside the country as to the migration controls.
The complete document is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bnhknsr5ZXPWI4q7m82K4VF1tIjoXEl0/view