Yves Mabial, an undocumented Haitian living in Santo Domingo, looking out a window in his apartment in January 2023. Photo by Marvens Compere for The Haitian Times

Yves Mabial, a call center agent in the Dominican Republic, has even more reasons now to bring his wife and 2-year-old son to Santo Domingo. Last month, the mom and son had to flee their home after gang attacks in Carrefour-Feuilles, a Port-au-Prince neighborhood, that left thousands displaced and seeking refuge outside the violent capital. 

But after Dominican President Luis Abinader announced his country stopped issuing visas to Haitians in and outside of the Dominican Republic on Sept. 11, Mabial’s goal of bringing his family to Santo Domingo appears unattainable. So does the ability for Mabial himself, who has been living in hiding, to obtain a visa.

Overview:

The Dominican Republic said it would stop issuing visas to Haitians, dashing the hopes of one man who wanted to reunite with his young family.

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Email me at onz@haitiantimes.com
Onz Chery is a Haiti correspondent for The Haitian Times. Chery started his journalism career as a City College of New York student with The Campus. He later wrote for First Touch, local soccer leagues in New York and Elite Sports New York before joining The Haitian Times in 2019.