Haitians Returned to a Country Already in Crisis

One of the less visible stories in Haiti is the growing number of people being forcibly returned from other countries, primarily the Dominican Republic.  During 2025, more than 270,000 people were returned to Haiti, a 36 percent increase from the prior year.

About 98 percent came from the Dominican Republic, and more than one-quarter entered through Ouanaminthe, the major border crossing in northeastern Haiti.

Many arrived with little money, few belongings and no reliable way to reach their home communities. In interviews conducted during 2025, 92 percent said transportation was an immediate need, 72 percent needed food and 27 percent needed temporary shelter.

Nearly one-third reported having no identification documents, while 19 percent had already been displaced inside Haiti before leaving the country.

The pattern continued into 2026. During the first six months of the year, 141,720 people were forcibly returned, 11 percent more than during the same period in 2025. Returns through Ouanaminthe increased by 58 percent. In March alone, Ouanaminthe received 38 percent of all recorded returns, briefly becoming Haiti’s busiest point of entry for returning migrants. The number of women and children affected has also risen sharply. Between 2024 and 2025, forced returns increased by 92 percent for adult women, 152 percent for girls and 133 percent for boys.

For many returnees, arriving in Haiti does not mean returning to stability. They are entering a country already facing widespread displacement, food insecurity, limited employment and weakened public services. The growing flow through Ouanaminthe also places additional pressure on families, transportation systems and community organizations throughout northern and northeastern Haiti.

Behind each number is a person facing the difficult task of beginning again—often without income, housing, documents or a clear path home.