SANTO DOMINGO. – Alberto Bogaert, president of the Association of Real Estate Agents and Companies (AEI), supported the efforts deployed by the government to strengthen legal order and immigration control in the country.
“At AEI, we support all government efforts to strengthen the legal order and immigration control,” the real estate leader responded when asked by El Inmobiliario about the measures announced last Sunday by President Luis Abinader aimed at curbing the migration of Haitian nationals to the country.
Bogaert stated that the association is fully prepared to collaborate with the authorities to design effective strategies that seek solutions, promote legality, order and trust for the benefit of the nation.
He said it would be interesting if the authorities took into account the rental law currently before the Chamber of Deputies and included the government's proposal.
Among the 15 measures announced by the president is the submission to the National Congress of a draft reform to toughen sanctions against owners of homes or commercial premises who rent their properties to people with irregular immigration status.
Alberto Bogaert. (EXTERNAL SOURCE).
“It would be interesting to explore the legal possibilities and take advantage of the ongoing Rental Law process, which is still in the Chamber of Deputies, to make the necessary adjustments so that this government proposal can be included,” stated Alberto Bogaert.
The measures announced by President Abinader are as follows:
) The supervisory capacity of the three current border brigades will be expanded into six operational areas under the supervision of a senior officer.
2) Border surveillance will be increased with an additional 1,500 soldiers, adding to the 9,500 already serving on the border.
3) The Ministry of Defense will immediately begin a tender to build an additional 13km to the 54km of border wall already built.
4) A draft reform will be submitted to the National Congress to toughen sanctions in the following cases: government officials, both civilian and military, who facilitate or participate in the entry of undocumented immigrants; organizations or individuals who repeatedly engage in human trafficking in an illegal situation; in addition, we will propose establishing harsh sanctions for cases not covered by current legislation, such as: owners of homes or commercial premises who rent their properties to people with irregular immigration status.
5) Incorporation of 750 new immigration agents.
6) We will expand the operational capacity of the DGM by installing immigration control offices in all provinces of the country.
7) We will modify the market operating regulations to ensure that it is an open door to trade, but not to irregular migration.
8) We will suggest to the Attorney General's Office the creation of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Migration Affairs.
9) Expand the efficiency of repatriations throughout the national territory through local governments.
10) Creation of a Citizen Observatory on the Functioning of Migration Policy to monitor compliance and propose corrective measures from civil society. This observatory will operate autonomously and independently, coordinated by journalist Miguel Franjul.
11) We will establish a protocol, which must be ready for implementation by Monday, April 21, requiring NHS hospital staff to demand the following: identification, proof of employment in the country, and a home test result. A fee will also be agreed upon for all services provided. If any of these requirements are not met, the patient will be treated and, once recovered, immediately repatriated. An immigration officer will be stationed at each hospital to ensure compliance with this protocol.
12) To study immigration regulations in light of the current situation in Haiti. We have decided to appoint Dr. Milton Ray Guevara as coordinator of a commission that will carry out this task.
13) We will now promote, in the tripartite wage negotiations, the Dominicanization of employment by advocating a 25% increase in free trade zones and a 30% increase in the tourism sector. Because when work is valued and well-paid, it attracts people.
14) We will guarantee that the beneficiaries of the Supérate program can join the workforce in the construction and agricultural sectors, without losing their support.
15) We will expand the fund administered by the National Development and Export Bank (Bandex) to provide producers' associations and cooperatives with the resources they need for technological transformation. The private construction and agricultural sectors must reach an agreement with the government regarding their industrialization and mechanization within a reasonable timeframe.
