18. In this context, there has been a historical increase in arbitrary expulsions and persecution of people of presumed Haitian origin, based on their skin colour, both in regular and irregular immigration situations, as well as denationalized people or people at risk of statelessness. There was deportation of 40,203 people to Haiti in 202164 and 120,812 people in 2022.65 During the first six months of 2023, approximately 110,465 people have been deported to Haiti, indicating that the total number of deportations could exceed the historical level reached the previous year.66 In reaction to calls from international organisations to suspend deportations to the country that does not allow a dignified and safe return,67 the President announced the intensification of expulsions in November 2022.68 The Dominican Republic is the country that carries out the highest number of deportations from Haiti, despite the deterioration of the situation in this country. During the first half of 2023, 93% of deportations to Haiti came from the Dominican Republic.69 19. Dominican authorities continue to arbitrarily detain and deport Dominican and Haitian people in a regular situation, or awaiting regularisation, based on the discriminatory and erroneous presumption that they could be Haitian migrants in an irregular situation.70 Authorities systematically resort to immigration detention without prior verification of irregular immigration status, although this verification is required by law.71 In a context of mass deportations,72 the authorities do not provide individualised treatment and violate the due process of the people concerned. In September 2022, DxD reported 800 attempted deportations of Dominican nationals.73 Denationalized Dominicans who have not yet been able to obtain their documents are at particular risk. In 2022, the deportation of 12 Dominican people from “Group A” was documented.74 According to OBMICA, there have been “constant” arrests and deportations of PNRE beneficiaries whose residence permits have expired and they have not been able to renew them;75 The Government has not adopted any guidelines to prevent the deportation of this group of more than 200,000 people76 which includes the 7,000 people in Group B.77 Therefore, they tend to limit their circulation in the country.78 In particular, blind people and those with other types of disabilities remained in a situation of “quasi-confinement” to avoid being deported in conditions that do not take into account their particular needs.79 64 OBMICA. Status of Migrations Concerning the Dominican Republic. 2021. P. 333. IACHR. Annual Report 2022. Chapter IV.a. Development of human rights in the region. OAS/Ser. L/V/II. Doc. 50 rev.1. April 1, 2023. Para. 676. 66 Free Diary. More than 100 thousand Haitians deported from the Dominican Republic in the first six months of 2023, available at: https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/nacional/2023/07/06/rd-deporta-mas-de-100-mil-haitianos-ilegales-en-6-meses/2396595. 67 OHCHR. Statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on the deportation of Haitians from the Dominican Republic. November 11, 2022; CERD. Statement. Situation of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees of Haitian origin in the region of the Americas. April 29, 2023. 68 CNN. The president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, describes statements by the UN high commissioner on the deportation of Haitians as "unacceptable and irresponsible", available at:https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2022/11/11/republicadominicana-presidente-abinader-inaceptables-irresponsables-declaraciones-onu-sobre-deportacion-de-haitianos-orix/. 69 IOM. Haiti Emergency Response. Situation Report. July 2023, available at: https://haiti.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl1091/files/documents/2023-08/external_sitrep_july_23.pdf. 70 US Department of State Annual Report on Human Rights Dominican Republic. 2022. P. 7. 71 Regulations for the application of the General Migration Law, “Decree 631-11”; adopted by the President on October 19, 2011. Article 134. 72 OBMICA. Status of Migrations Concerning the Dominican Republic. 2021. P. 342. 73 OBMICA. Bulletin. September 2022. P. 3. 74 OBMICA. Dignified treatment: New challenges for Due Process in Deportations from the Dominican Republic. February, 2023. P. 14. 75 OBMICA. Status of Migrations Concerning the Dominican Republic. 2021. P. 342. 76 Ibid. P. 343. 77 US Department of State Annual Report on Human Rights Dominican Republic. 2022. P. 21. 78 OBMICA. Status of Migrations Concerning the Dominican Republic. 2021. P. 352. 79 Interview conducted by Dominican@s por Derecho on September 5, 2023. 65 7