Some Haitians flee Punta Cana ahead of anti-Haitian march in Dominican Republic town

OUANAMINTHE, Haiti — Molina Flota isn’t taking any chances. The Dominican lawyer who defends Haitians facing discrimination in the Dominican Republic is moving as many Haitian families as she can into hiding ahead of a planned anti-Haitian march taking place Sunday.

“This weekend, I’ll take as many people as possible to a safer place,” she said “But I’ll stay until Sunday night. These supremacists want to cause disaster.”

Antigua Orden Dominicana (AOD), the Dominican nationalist group organizing the anti-Haitian protest on March 30 in Punta Cana, an eastern town in the Dominican Republic, claims undocumented Haitian migrants are committing crimes in the neighboring towns of Bávaro, Higüey and Hoyo de Friusa.

Although AOD says that the march will be peaceful, some Haitians have decided to flee Punta Cana in anticipation of attacks.

During a March 28 press conference, 22 Haitian and Dominican organizations denounced the march, unsuccessfully calling on the Dominican government to stop the march, labeling it xenophobic and racist, according to Dominican Today. 

“Haitian representatives now want to decide who marches on Dominican territory,” Antigua Arden Dominicana posted on X on March 28.

More than 100 soldiers have been deployed in Hoyo de Friusa to patrol the area and maintain order ahead of the Dominican protest. But many Haitians say the heavy military presence feels threatening, not reassuring. Residents have avoided leaving their homes, fearing possible violence.

For some, the tension evokes memories of the 1937 Parsley Massacre, when Dominican soldiers killed an estimated 17,000 to 35,000 Haitians between Oct. 2 and Oct. 8 under orders from dictator Rafael Trujillo.

“Our children are worried about the number of soldiers in the streets in this area without knowing why they are there,” said Wilson Charles, a Haitian pastor living in Hoyo de Friusa.

Flota added that the march will begin at 4:00 a.m., the time many Haitians usually go home from work, making the demonstration even more concerning.

The upcoming march is the latest episode in the ongoing tensions between Haiti and the Dominican Republic—conflicts that have turned violent in the past. In September 2023, a dispute erupted over Haiti’s construction of an irrigation canal near the border. That same year, Dominican President Luis Abinader launched a mass deportation campaign targeting Haitians, further straining relations between the two nations.

Tensions between Haitians and Dominicans have also played out on social media in recent years. Earlier this month, a video went viral showing a Dominican man shooting a Haitian construction worker. 

According to Flota, the victim was killed after requesting payment for his labor. Flota added that others present were injured and detained without cause, highlighting ongoing concerns about discrimination and abuse.

Cristina Dolis, coordinator of the Dominican and Haitian Women’s Movement, also voiced deep concern about the upcoming march. She urged members of the Haitian community to remain vigilant and take precautions to avoid being targeted during the protest.

Her organization is actively working to raise awareness among authorities and civil society about the potential risks, while advocating for stronger security measures to protect all residents—regardless of their immigration status or national origin.

“The Haitian community, faced with this period of uncertainty, must be vigilant and follow the recommendations of migrant advocacy organizations to minimize risks,” Dolis said. “Solidarity and mutual support will be essential to get through this difficult time.”

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