Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New York (Agenzia Fides) - The battle to avoid the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Haitians living in the Dominican Republic, who according to recent local legislation cannot obtain Dominican citizenship, has moved to the United States, where about 600,000 Haitian immigrants and more than one million Dominicans live.
In New York, where there are more than 135,000 Haitians and a half a million Dominicans, the mayor, Bill de Blasio, said that the threat of deportation of Haitians on behalf of the Dominican government is "clearly an illegal act, an immoral act" and "a racist act". Statements that caused the immediate response of the Dominican Ambassador.
The Bishop of Brooklyn, His Exc. Mgr. Nicholas DiMarzio, has announced he will celebrate a Mass on Wednesday, June 24 for solidarity and unity, and to ask to stop the deportation of Haitians living in the Dominican Republic. The Bishop has invited the entire community to participate, in particular he launches an appeal to Dominicans and Haitians, to "pray together in order to sensitize the Dominican government on this humanitarian crisis". (CE) (Agenzia Fides 23/06/2015)
