SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic 鈥� The Dominican Republic announced Wednesday that it would start massive deportations of Haitians living illegally in the country, expelling up to 10,000 of them a week.
Government spokesman Homero Figueroa told reporters that the government took the decision after noticing an 鈥渆xcess鈥� of Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.
Figueroa said officials have seen an increase in Haitian migrants as a flounders. He said authorities also agreed to strengthen border surveillance and control, but he did not provide details.
Last year, the Dominican Republic deported more than 174,000 people it says are Haitians, and in the first half of the year, it has expelled at least 67,000 more.
READ MORE: Dominican president warns of 'drastic measures' if anti-gang mission in Haiti fails
Activists have long criticized the administration of for what they say are ongoing human rights violations of Haitians and those of Haitian descent born in the Dominican Republic. Abinader has denied any mistreatment.
Wednesday's announcement comes a week after Abinader that he would take 鈥渄rastic measures鈥� if the mission in Haiti fails. It is led by nearly 400 police officers from Kenya, backed by nearly two dozen police and soldiers from Jamaica and two senior military officers from Belize. The U.S. has warned that the mission lacks personnel and funding .
Gangs in Haiti control 80% of the Port-au-Prince capital, and the violence has left nearly 700,000 Haitians in recent years, while thousands of others have fled the country.
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