To make ends meet in the Dominican Republic, even professional Haitians are forced into menial labor, such as cleaning houses and washing clothes.

“I have not received any assistance from the Dominican government, but neither have I expected anything – not after the treatment we received while trying to get legal documentation, not when discrimination in this country is so intense and their hatred of us runs so deep.” – Coralie

“I arrived in the DR in 1992. We have had no opportunity to build a life here. We live in the same desperation, degradation and misery as we did when we arrived. I have never received help from the Dominican government, only from the United Nations’ office for refugees.” – Helene

Haitians seeking refuge in the Dominican Republic have little hope for a peaceful existence in the face of intense discrimination, legal exclusion and a lack of social services.

“I have no possibility of earning any real income here. I can sometimes make fried foods to sell. Every morning I try to get enough food together to go to the corner to sell treats to the neighbors. I do this so that my son and I may eat. He’s very sick and I have to help him. With the money from the sales we do not do well, but at least we are surviving.” – Marie

“Mostly I depend on my daughter. She sells vegetables and I help her to wash what she sells. With her sales we live. I am advanced in age and I am sick. I cannot look for work. I do not have any legal documentation, which is indispensable in this country. Here I am doing very poorly.” – Coralie

No Documents

The Dominican government rarely provides documents to indicate that a Haitian asylum seeker has claimed a right to international protection, and it charges exorbitant fees to initiate and renew an asylum status determination process.

Without legal protection, day laborers have no recourse if employers refuse to pay owed wages.

“We have been here most of my life, 15 years now. Without documents you cannot get anything in this country. You have no access to education, or medical care, no services – nothing. It all comes from the lack of documents. And we came over as refugees. They do not distinguish.” – Rosemarie

“Sometimes I am able to get a job in domestic service, but it always ends if they ask me for legal documentation. When I need to go to the hospital I have to go with a Dominican to get treatment. They will not treat a Haitian.” – Fleur

“After they killed my husband in Haiti, I had to come here for refuge. Living here has been a trial. Without identity documents I cannot get a job that pays. Mostly I work for food. I have no money. The domestic service I do for families does not get me enough money to have a life here.” – Helene

When documents are issued, they are sometimes useless, as Dominican immigration officials have been known to ignore or confiscate the issued documents and illegally deport Haitian refugees in mass expulsion campaigns. Haitian refugees and their Dominican-born children live in fear of deportation.