Dominican Republic detains pregnant Haitian women in hospital swoop
11 hours ago
EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Many of the women arrested were pregnant and others had recently given birth
The Dominican Republic says it deported more than 130 Haitian women and children on the first day of a crackdown on undocumented migrants in hospitals.
Dominican authorities said 48 pregnant women, 39 new mothers and 48 children were removed on Monday.
The swoop is one of 15 measures announced by President Luis Abinader to cut the number of undocumented migrants in his country, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.
Abinader's government has been criticised for its harsh treatment of Haitian migrants, many of whom are fleeing the extreme gang violence in their country.
Those deported were taken to a detention centre to have their biometric data and fingerprints taken, before being handed to Haitian authorities at the Elías Piña border crossing.
The Dominican immigration department said the women and their children "were treated with dignity and given food".
Immigration officials added that those detained were taken to the border in buses "with padded seats, safety belts, air conditioning, curtains, CCTV cameras, bathrooms, and a luggage area".
Officials also said all were deported after they had been "discharged from hospital and there were no risks to their health".
However, the Dominican College of Physicians called the deportations "inhumane" and said that checking people's migratory status and detaining them in hospitals would lead to undocumented migrants being too afraid to seek urgent medical care.
At least half a million Haitians are estimated to live in the Dominican Republic, which has a population of 11m.
One study suggests close to 33,000 Haitian mothers gave birth in Dominican hospitals last years.
Many Dominicans complain of the additional strain on public services, including health.
President Abinader said earlier this month that his country's "generosity will not be exploited", and that public hospitals would be required to check patients' IDs, work permits and proof of residence.
He said that those not in possession of the necessary papers would be deported after being treated.
The Dominican Republic has deported more than 80,000 people to Haiti in the first three months of this year, according to AFP news agency.
Rights groups have described the deportations as "cruel".
More than 5,600 people were killed in gang violence in Haiti in 2024 and many hospitals have had to close after being stormed by gang members.
On Monday, the UN special representative to Haiti, María Isabel Salvador, warned that a recent surge in gang violence meant the country was approaching a "point of no return".
National Center of Haitian Apostolate
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER - Divine Mercy Sunday - April 27, 2025
Act 5, 12-16; Ps 118; Rev 1, 9-11a +12-13+17-19; Jn 20. 29-31
Msgr. Pierre Andre Pierre
Today, the first Sunday after Easter, we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. On April 30, 2000, St. Pope John Paul II resorted to a revelation from Sister Faustina of Poland (Aug 25, 1905 – Oct 5, 1038) and instituted this feast for the entire Church. In a vision, she saw Jesus with two rays shining forth from the open wound on his side: a white ray symbolizing the healing river of grace flowing from the Risen Lord and a red ray signifying the blood of mercy pouring out from His Heart.
We are urged to believe more intensely in the three key teachings of Divine Mercy Sunday. First: God’s love for each one of us is infinite. Second, Jesus' death on the Cross is above all an act of mercy. Third, we too must be Ministers of Mercy in the midst of this cruel world.
Today’s readings (Acts, Rev., and John) give us a glimpse into the Christian community as it began to develop after Easter. We need to pay attention to the details. First, they were all united. It was necessary because they faced so much opposition. They were united, and they gathered to pray. In that, we are similar. We, too, pray together. In the days following the death of Pope Francis, and as we await the conclave to elect the new pope, all Catholics are also united in prayer for his eternal rest and the future of the Church. It's something felt throughout the world.
The actions the Apostles performed were the same as those of Jesus: healing the sick, freeing the possessed, in short, helping people to be happy and free. Despite ongoing persecutions, the Christians maintained fidelity and perseverance to the Risen Lord, their King. It seemed that non-believers liked them and were sympathetic to them. This could be dangerous, since going against power and the mainstream of society has always been risky.
In the apparition, the Risen Lord brings Peace to his Disciples. He gives them his Spirit and the Power to forgive sins. The Gospel speaks about the importance of community. Outside of it, Thomas cannot encounter the Risen Lord. Reunited with it, the encounter and confession of faith take place. Instead of fear and doubts about the presence of the Risen Lord, peace emanates from the Lord, the peace that even allows them to face death with harmony, as the martyrs do.
The Gospel gives us the keys to understanding what it means to believe in the Master's resurrection. It is not a physical optical event, but something invisible to the eyes, yet accessible to those who have faith. Therefore, says Jesus: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." The resurrected, glorified body is not limited by space and time. It extends as far as the Spirit extends. It is present at the time when the Spirit is present.
"What did the disciples see?" They saw what God allowed them to see, to contemplate "mysteriously" the reality of the risen Lord. The risen Jesus is not in one place, but in every place; He is not in one time, but in all times; He is not in one person, but in all people. All power in heaven and on earth has been given to him.
Like the Disciples, we are invited to be bearers of Christ's peace, to boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus, and to heal through our words and actions. If we ask, the Lord will grant it to us. Amen.
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Ira Paul Lowenthal, on April 23, 2025. Ira passed away peacefully surrounded by family after a long battle with cancer.
Ira was a beloved son, brother, father, grandfather and friend. He was known for his quick wit, deep love of Haiti, passion for music, appreciation of good food and drink, and his ever-present enthusiasm for lively social gatherings and entertaining. Ira touched the lives of many through his work and friendship over the course of his rich and vibrant life.
Ira was born in Jersey City, New Jersey to Alan Lowenthal and Doris Zinick. He graduated from Yale University and earned an advanced degree from Johns Hopkins University, pursuing a career in Anthropology and Ethnology.
Ira’s lifelong connection to Haiti began in childhood, sparked by his father Alan, a jazz drummer, who owned a set of Haitian drums stored in the basement of their New Jersey home. His interest and curiosity about Haiti and the Caribbean was further deepened by his professors Sidney Mintz and Richard Price. In 1972, Ira made his first visit to Haiti with his close friend Drexel Woodson. He immediately fell in love with the country and its people, ultimately choosing to make Haiti his home and the central focus of his academic and professional life.
From 1976 to 1980, Ira conducted fieldwork in Duverger, Haiti—research that culminated in the birth of his daughter and his doctoral dissertation, “Marriage is 20, Children are 21: The Cultural Construction of Conjugality and the Family in Rural Haiti.” Over the next four decades, Ira became a recognized expert on Haitian society and culture. He held numerous roles in humanitarian and development work with organizations such as USAID, the Inter-American Development Bank, and various NGOs.
A passionate collector and supporter of Haitian art and artisans, Ira—together with his then-wife, Alexis Gardella—opened Men Nou, a gallery in Pétion-Ville, Haiti. The gallery celebrated and promoted the work of local artists.
Ira is survived by his first wife, Clémène Adrien, mother of his only child, Alena Lowenthal; Clémène’s other children Bertha, Fritz, Guerda and Ariol; and his grandson, Imani-Hans Ngalame. He is also survived by his son-in-law, Ralph Cassagnol; his stepson, Owen Michael; his stepfather, Jerome Carp; and his siblings, Edward Carp and Wendy Gallo.
2025 Little Haiti Book Festival
Dear friend of the Little Haiti Book Festival,
We are thrilled to invite you to the 2025 Little Haiti Book Festival, an annual celebration of Haitian literature, culture, and community. This year’s festival takes place on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex in Miami. As one of our valued supporters, your presence as a VIP guest would be an honor and will help us celebrate the spirit of Little Haiti together in a memorable way.
The Little Haiti Book Festival is a vibrant, family-friendly event showcasing Haiti’s rich cultural heritage. Throughout the day, enjoy author readings, live music, cultural performances, and engaging activities for all ages. It’s a day to reconnect with what matters most – family, community, and culture – all while savoring the authentic sights, sounds, and flavors of Haiti in the heart of Miami.
Experience the LAKOU – Our New Communal Courtyard
This year, we’re especially excited to introduce LAKOU, a new open-air courtyard space inspired by the communal spirit of a traditional Haitian lakou (courtyard). We invite you to stop by the LAKOU area at any time during the festival to relax, mingle, and immerse yourself in an authentic Haitian experience. In the LAKOU, you'll find the atmosphere warm and welcoming – the perfect place to unwind between events or catch up with friends old and new.
Highlights of the LAKOU experience include:
- Authentic Haitian Cuisine: Savor delicious traditional foods from local Haitian vendors, bringing you the true flavors of Haiti.
- Full Bar: Enjoy a full bar offering refreshing beverages, including signature Haitian drinks, in a lively tropical ambiance.
- Family-Friendly Entertainment: Delight in puzzles, games, and interactive activities for children (and adults!) provided by our friends at Game Time Ayiti – ensuring fun for the whole family all day long.
- Community Gathering Space: An open courtyard setting where you can comfortably network and mingle with fellow VIPs, authors, and community leaders in a casual, festive environment that echoes the togetherness of a Haitian lakou.
Event Details
- Date: Sunday, May 4, 2025
- Time: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (drop in at your convenience)
- Location: Little Haiti Cultural Complex – 212 NE 59th Terrace, Miami, FL
- Admission: Free (festival open to the public, all ages welcome)
We deeply appreciate your support and involvement in the Little Haiti Book Festival. Your presence makes a difference – it helps foster the sense of community and cultural pride that this festival is all about. Feel free to bring your family to share in the day’s festivities, explore the books and art, and of course, enjoy the LAKOU together.
Thank you for being a cherished part of our festival community. We look forward to celebrating with you on May 4th in the heart of Little Haiti. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
M.J.
MJ FIEVRE | READCARIBBEAN COORDINATOR
Miami Book Fair | Miami Dade College
Sosyete Koukouy of Miami, Inc.
954-391-3398
MiamiBookFair.com | MiamiBookFairOnline.com
@MiamiBookFair on FB, IG, and Twitter | #MiamiReads
https://www.sosyetekoukouy.org/
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The mission of the Miami Book Fair is to engage our community through inclusive, accessible, year-round programs that promote reading and support writers throughout South Florida.
Established in 1985, Sosyete Koukouy of Miami, Inc. is dedicated to preserving Haitian culture in the United States through education, arts, and cultural presentations. Our mission is preserving, perpetuating, and presenting Haitian cultural performances and exhibitions to Creole and non-Creole-speaking audiences.
Haiti could face ‘total chaos’ without more global support, UN envoy warns
The UN’s top official in Haiti says gang violence could reach a “point of no return” without urgent international backing.
by AP News Apr. 23, 2025
THE HAITIAN TIMES
Haiti’s escalating gang violence could push the country into “total chaos” unless the international community urgently provides funding and support, UN envoy María Isabel Salvador warned at a Security Council briefing on Monday.
The top U.N. official in Haiti sounded an alarm to the U.N. Security Council on Monday that escalating gang violence is liable to lead the Caribbean nation to “a point of no return.”
María Isabel Salvador warned that “Haiti could face total chaos” without increased funding and support for the operation of the Kenya-led multinational force helping Haiti’s police to tackle the gangs’ expanding violence into areas beyond the capital, Port-Au-Prince.
Most recently, she said, gangs seized the city of Mirebalais in central Haiti and during the attack over 500 prisoners were freed. It was the fifth prison break in under a year, “part of a deliberate effort to entrench dominance, dismantle institutions and instill fear.”
Haiti’s police, supported by the armed forces and the Kenya-led force, were overwhelmed by the scale and duration of the violence, the U.N. special representative said.
The gangs have grown in power since the July 7, 2021, assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and are now estimated to control 85% of the capital and are moving into surrounding areas. Haiti has not had a president since then.
The U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police arrived in Haiti last year to help local authorities quell gang violence, but the mission remains understaffed and underfunded, with only about 40% of the 2,500 personnel originally envisioned.
Salvador said that in February and March alone, 1,086 people were killed and 383 injured. In addition, according to the U.N. migration office, over 60,000 Haitians were displaced in the past two months, adding to 1 million already displaced by December. “These figures are expected to rise,” she said.
Earlier this month, the leader of Haiti’s transitional presidential council, Fritz Alphonse Jean, tried to allay surging alarm among Haitians over the rampant gang violence by acknowledging that the country has “become hell for everyone.” He promised new measures to stop the bloodshed.
But Salvador, who heads the U.N. political mission in the country, said the Haitian government’s efforts alone will be insufficient to significantly reduce the intensity of the violence perpetrated by criminal groups.
In February, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said he would ask the Security Council to authorize funding for the structural and logistical expenses of the Kenya-led mission from the U.N. budget.
But there are no signs that the 15-member council plans to address this request any time soon.
“Without timely, decisive and concrete international assistance, the security situation in Haiti may not change,” Salvador warned. “Haiti could face total chaos.”
Kenya’s national security adviser, Monica Juma, told the council in a video briefing from Nairobi that the force has entered “a decisive phase of its operation” where gangs are coordinating operations and attacking people and strategic installations, and targeting the political establishment.
While the Haitian police and the multinational force have launched intensive anti-gang operations and achieved some notable progress, especially in securing critical infrastructure, she said a significant gap exists.
Juma said 261 Kenyan police officers are trained and ready to deploy to Haiti, but they can’t get there because of a lack of equipment and logistical support.
She urged the council to take a “more assertive and proactive role” in helping to stabilize Haiti, saying time is of the essence.
Juma said critical to stabilizing the country is stopping the flow of guns and ammunition to the gangs and implementing sanctions against gang leaders. U.N. experts say most arms come from the United States, specifically the Miami area.