Dominican activist Santiago Molina protects Haitian migrants from raids, abuse and deportation | Did You Know? 

FORT-LIBERTÉ— On a recent May night in the Dominican Republic, Santiago Molina, a native of La Romana, quietly moved Haitian families into hiding ahead of a planned anti-Haitian march. On another day, Molina was seen arranging for buses to return vulnerable Haitians safely to their homeland, hoping to spare them the trauma of inhumane deportations.

Molina has been doing this work quietly and relentlessly for years. From rushing families to safety late at night, to confronting Dominican authorities by day, he has long been a lifeline for Haitians in a country where many live in fear of discrimination, raids, and abuse.

“I was born to Dominican parents. I am against the abuses that our Haitian neighbors suffer,” Molina told The Haitian Times.

Molina has emerged as a rare and unwavering advocate for the Haitian community in the complex and often tense relationship between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. A human rights activist, Molina has committed his life to defending Haitian migrants facing injustice, often at great personal risk.

Molina’s commitment to Haitians has made many question whether he has Haitian family ties. He does not. For him, shared humanity is enough.

Santiago Molina’s family roots are deeply Dominican. His mother, Malta Dolores Molina, is a native of La Romana, and his father, Raúl Rolando Reyes, is from the province of Samaná. His identity has never hindered his solidarity with the Haitian community. On the contrary, it has strengthened his sense of fairness and his desire to see all individuals treated with respect and dignity.

“My full Dominican identity has never been an obstacle to my solidarity with the Haitian community,” he said.

His journey into activism began after his meeting with and his commitment alongside international human rights leader Dr. Genaro Rincón Mieces. This influence was undoubtedly decisive in the direction of his life

Over the years, Molina studied English and cinema and trained as a private investigator—skills he now uses in his organizing. He also worked as a carpenter and cabinetmaker, grounding him in a practical, problem-solving approach to justice.

Molina’s work has come at a steep price. He was forced to abandon his university studies after receiving threats from Dominican authorities who opposed his defense of Haitians.

“I stopped my university studies because of my position for the Haitians,” he said. “My entire family suffered attacks from anti-Haitians in the Dominican Republic.”

He eventually sent his children to live in the United States for their safety.

“I was forced to send the children to the United States,” he added. “A Dominican who fights for the Haitians should not live with his children.”

In late April, mass expulsions of Haitian migrant women—some in labor, pregnant, or with newborns, escalated under new immigration policies under Dominican President Luis Abinader. 

A hospital directive by the DR authorities now requires ID, proof of address, and work documentation before treatment, leaving many undocumented migrants without access to basic care. In towns like Fruisa and Dajabón, families have been removed from homes, shelters, and hospitals, loaded onto trucks, and deported.

From Punta Cana to Bávaro to Hoyo de Friusa, Molina regularly steps in when Haitians are detained, threatened, or mistreated. He partners directly with members of the Haitian community, including the Haitian Clandestine Committee, to prevent deportations and protect those without legal status. His work with a clandestine group reflects the complexity of the environment he operates in, where taking public action is often risky—and at times, impossible.

Helping Haitian youth launch the Bávaro Football Association is one of his more creative solutions. For Molina, sports can be a form of empowerment and resistance.

“He gives his all and everything he has for the well-being of Haitians in the Dominican Republic,” said Delva Leila Maurice, a Haitian woman deported in 2024 who now lives in Cap-Haïtien with one of her six children.

Molina is also quick to respond to injustice on the job. One major fight has been against Dominican employers who call immigration officials to arrest Haitian workers after using their labor. It’s a tactic used to avoid paying them.

“The fight against economic exploitation is just as important,” Molina says.

He’s also pressured contractors to provide safe transportation for Haitian workers, many of whom travel in dangerous conditions to job sites.

“If contractors in La Romana no longer call the police when they have to pay Haitians for their work, it’s thanks to Molina,” says Richard Sonel, a Haitian migrant in the DR.

Fear is part of everyday life for many Haitian migrants—whether it’s fear of being detained, harassed, or targeted after work or on public transportation. Molina has become someone people call not just for legal help, but for safety and dignity.

“When Haitian workers are made to travel in bad conditions like cattle, Molina defends them. When Haitian workers have accidents in their cars, he supports them,” says Rony Saint Dique.

In March, following protests and violence targeting Haitians in several towns, Molina publicly demanded that the Haitian consulate provide buses to help migrants return home voluntarily.

“Because of the threats that Haitians face, I met with the Haitian consulate in Bávaro and Higüey to put two buses at the disposal of Haitians who want to return to their country,” Molina says.

Even in the most complicated cases—like Haitians charged of crimes—Molina pushes for ethical prosecution.

“When Dominicans accuse young Haitians of being rapists, he ensures that the proceedings are respected as if it were a Dominican,” Delva Leila said.

Through every action, from courtroom defenses to emergency organizing, Molina offers something rare in the Dominican Republic: consistent, visible, unapologetic support for the Haitian community.

“He is an example of dedication and courage in the fight for human rights,” Rony Saint Dique said.

“Molina is a mirror of society; many young undocumented migrants consider him a father figure,” Maurice said.

Editor’s Note: “Did You Know” is a THT series rooted in Haitian heritage and boundless curiosity, championed by the late Haitian music journalist and Haitian Times columnist Ralph Delly.

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