International
Dominicans Propose to Block 27,000 Haitian Students from Public Schools
- Thursday, June 14, 2012 2:06 PM
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (defend.ht) - 27,000 foreign students, almost all Haitian, will not be able to attend the Dominican Republic's public schools according to a proposed regulation handed to outgoing Dominican President Leonel Fernandez on Wednesday.
The proposition requires students to have valid identification documents, a sovereign right reserved by D.R. Included in the proposition are penalties for businesses that hire illegal immigrants and requirements for residency permits for foreigners.
The final say on these new regulations will come from Dominican President Fernandez or the President-elect, Danilo Medina, who comes into office on August 16.
The new regulations come at a time when new stricter restrictions directed towards Haitians seeking to obtain visas were introduced.
As of last week applications for visas from Haitians must pass through the Dominican Foreign Affairs Ministry as opposed to an embassy or consulate office. Also, visas for Haitians now require bank statements and letters of invitation from parties in the Dominican Republic.
This week, the Haitian government recalled its Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Fritz Cineas, for consultations to be held between Dominican and Haitian officials.
In December of 2011, the Dominican Supreme Court upheld a law that says children born of illegal immigrants, although in Dominican territory, are not Dominicans.
Related 06.05.2012: Haitians Seeking Dominican Visas Subject to More Restrictions
Related 12.30.2011: Haiti: Visas not Required for Dominican, Colombian, Panamanian Visitors
Source: CNN
