The Dominican Republic as a Forced Destination: Deportations of Dominicans from the United States and Spain
By Carlos Abaunza, Associate Researcher. October 10, 2014. With the most recent mass expulsions that the United States began some months ago against Mexican and Central American youth and children, the issue of deportations has regained visibility in the international arena. Given the Dominican Republic's long history as both a sending and receiving country of migration, this is not a new issue.
In this article, Carlos Abaunza examines deportations of Dominicans from the United States and Spain, situating the issue within broader debates on forced return, stigma, and social reintegration. The text highlights how deportation affects not only statistics but also the health, wellbeing, and futures of individuals, families, and communities.
The article is part of a dialogue promoted by OBMICA and Rutgers University to better understand the consequences of deportation and to encourage more humane approaches to return, reintegration, and public policy.