Haiti leader promises IDs for migrants in Dominican Republic

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – Haiti’s president-elect is pledging to provide national ID cards to migrants in the neighbouring Dominican Republic so they can apply for a legal residency program.

Jovenel Moise told reporters Wednesday at the Dominican national palace that his administration will expedite delivery of the documents. A previous delay by the Haitian state prevented thousands from seeking authorization to reside in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican government launched the special residency program in 2014. Less than 20,000 people were approved.

An estimated 460,000 Haitian migrants live in the Dominican Republic, which shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti.

Moise won Haiti’s Nov. 20 presidential election and takes office Feb. 7. He has been visiting the Dominican Republic since Monday and meeting with President Danilo Medina and other officials.

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