The Dominican Republic, citing concerns over water resource diversion, has closed all borders with Haiti and suspended visa procedures. President Luis Abinader had previously ordered the suspension of work on the canal, leading to a prolonged standoff. In response, the Haitian government, through its permanent representative to the Organization of American States, Leon Charles, asserted during a special meeting that Haiti holds the sovereign right to build infrastructure on its own territory. The new government pledge includes the creation of a commission to work alongside the local committee, though no official figure for the allocated budget has been publicly released.
Local stakeholders in Ouanaminthe have expressed mixed reactions to the state’s intervention. Wideline Pierre, speaking on behalf of the canal committee, thanked the government for its involvement but emphasized that the local group would maintain its own timeline for completion. “As the state’s studies take time, they may be surprised to see the work progressing because the construction of the canal is not going to stop,” Pierre stated. Other residents, however, voiced skepticism, questioning why state support was not provided from the project’s inception. Some local workers rejected the need for government presence on site, asserting their capacity to continue the work independently despite the diplomatic pressures.
The canal dispute has exacerbated existing tensions over migration and border security, resulting in a severe humanitarian impact on Haitian communities within the Dominican Republic. Over 379,000 expulsions were recorded in 2025 alone, a sharp increase driven by a policy that critics describe as relying on racial profiling. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the operations, noting that they disproportionately target individuals based on skin color rather than legal status. These efforts have affected both undocumented Haitians and Black Dominicans, fueling accusations of systemic abuse and statelessness.
Accounts from individuals detained as part of these operations describe conditions that human rights advocates characterize as inhumane. Detainees have reported being held in overcrowded facilities, such as the Haina detention center, where basic needs like water and adequate food were not consistently met. Many were transported to the border in overcrowded trucks, with some describing the conditions as comparable to the transport of livestock. In several instances, families reported having to pay significant sums of money to drop charges against detained relatives, often after physical abuse was alleged.
The Dominican General Directorate of Migration has officially stated that its operations are conducted with strict respect for fundamental rights, ensuring dignified treatment, safety, and due process in accordance with national and international regulations. However, the scale of the deportations and the testimony of those affected have intensified international scrutiny of the bilateral relationship. As the Haitian government moves to formalize its support for the canal, the two nations remain locked in a standoff that has closed physical borders and heightened social tensions on the island of Hispaniola. The next phase of this crisis will likely hinge on whether diplomatic channels can address the water resource dispute without further escalating the broader migration and security tensions between the two countries.
