Refugees International (RI) and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) will conduct a joint visit to Haiti and the Dominican Republic from November 6 to 17.

The primary purpose of the upcoming visit to the island is to focus on the situation of stateless persons of Haitian origin in the Dominican Republic, with particular attention to the vulnerabilities of children, and to identify what steps both countries are undertaking to prevent and reduce statelessness. Over the years, RI missions to Hispaniola have focused on the protection of Haitian refugees in neighboring countries, refoulement and repatriation of asylum seekers to Haiti, as well as conducting assessments on internal displacement and the UN peace operation in Haiti.

LIRS and RI will also focus on the need for durable solutions for undocumented Haitians in the Dominican Republic, including individuals who continue to meet the refugee definition. LIRS, which is a leading refugee resettlement agency based in Baltimore, is particularly concerned about the barriers which currently prevent Haitian refugees from accessing resettlement in the U.S. refugee program. The team will also work to identify the factors forcing people to move within the region and to urge both countries to uphold every persons’ right to a nationality and to enjoy protection.