Jesuit priest Regino Martinez, coordinator of border NGO Solidaridad Fronteriza, has given details of a study that shows that despite the militarization of the border, 69% of illegal immigrants who use transport to Santiago do so on pre-paid packages. He says that the average cost of migrating to the Dominican Republic is RD$3,440. The minimum cost of the fare is RD$800 and the high end is RD$12,000, according to a study of people smuggling between Haiti to Santiago presented by the Center for Training and Social and Farm Action (Cefasa).

The study found that as many as 80% of the immigrants are stopped by the authorities along the way. "Of this number more than 75% are people with irregular status, but there was no repatriation," states the study. Cefesa says that 92% of the transport services used by the immigrants are stopped by the authorities at checkpoints, but the people are not returned to their country.

More...