How Did Two Former Colonies, Neighbors on the Same Island, Become Enemies Drifting Apart? Escalation of Haitian Persecution in the Dominican Republic and the Relentless Racism Ignored by the World
Hispaniola, the second-largest island in the Caribbean (after Cuba), is shared by two nations. On the island’s western side lies the impoverished state of Haiti, while the eastern side is home to the more stable and economically successful Dominican Republic.
Both countries have similar population sizes—Haiti with 11 million, and the Dominican Republic with approximately 10.7 million people. In terms of land area, however, the Dominican Republic is nearly twice as large. The languages spoken are colonial legacies—Spanish in the Dominican Republic (which was once called Santo Domingo, now the name of its capital), and French and Creole in Haiti.
The Dominican Republic is ten times wealthier than Haiti. That disparity alone is a recipe for tension, but the conflicts and crises between these two neighboring island states have been ongoing for centuries.
We’ll focus on current events, but first, a brief explanation of the underlying causes of these tensions is necessary. In the early 19th century, both countries were colonies—one under Spanish control, the other under French. But even then, the differences were stark. Haiti was (unlike today) the richer colony, but that wasn’t good news for its people.
While both Spain and France practiced slavery, the French were significantly more brutal. Spain had laws limiting the exploitation of slaves in its colonies, whereas in the French colonies, almost anything was allowed.
The History of Two Colonies and a Unified Hispaniola That Couldn’t Last
It’s no surprise, then, that a revolution broke out in Haiti—a truly historic and fascinating uprising. Haiti achieved something unprecedented: enslaved people rose up, overthrew their enslavers, and took control of the country. In 1804, Haitians overthrew French rule. Meanwhile, their neighbors in what is now the Dominican Republic were still under Spanish control—but not for long. Spain became embroiled in wars in Europe, and its colonial grip weakened. Haiti seized the opportunity, launched a new military campaign, and annexed the Spanish colony, unifying all of Hispaniola.
How were they received in what is now the Dominican Republic? Quite positively—like liberators. Haitian President Jean-Pierre Boyer declared upon entering Santo Domingo: “I come not as a conqueror, but by the will of the people.”
And all was well… for a while. Soon, Dominicans began to complain of high taxes imposed by the Haitians, mismanagement, and economic collapse.
Tensions escalated, and in 1844 a fierce war broke out on the island. Surprisingly, the former colonial powers stayed out of the conflict, which remained a largely local and “authentic” struggle. Dominicans were frustrated with Haitian leadership that sought to centralize power entirely in Haitian hands.
Race was also a factor. The Dominican Republic had a higher proportion of white and mixed-race people compared to Haiti, and during the Haitian Revolution, many whites and mixed-race people had been killed simply because of their skin color.
Three Cells and the Fight for a Free Dominican Republic
The movement for independence began in 1838 when three Dominicans—Juan Pablo Duarte, Ramon Matías Mella, and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez (the first two were white)—formed a secret resistance organization called La Trinitaria. Named for its three secret cells that operated independently, La Trinitaria garnered popular support and even managed to covertly convert two Haitian army regiments.
A brutal and traumatizing war ensued, ending in Dominican victory and the establishment of an independent Dominican Republic. Hispaniola would remain forever divided. Yet relations between the two countries never fully recovered, and the following decades were marked by crises, border skirmishes, and massacres.
The 1937 Massacre of Haitians and a Legacy of Brutality
Though Haiti had been defeated, many Haitians continued to live near the border in the Dominican Republic. In October 1937, the Dominican government seized the opportunity to begin ethnic cleansing. Claiming that Haiti was harboring “Dominican enemies,” President Rafael Trujillo ordered attacks on the Haitian population within Dominican borders.
It was a horrific massacre of civilians—between 20,000 and 30,000 people were killed. Only those who fled to Haiti survived. The Dominican Republic committed a total ethnic cleansing and slaughter of its Haitian population. Still, it’s difficult to label one side as purely victim or aggressor; Haitians themselves had shown brutality during their early invasions of the Dominican Republic—such as in 1805, when Haitian forces beheaded 40 children inside a church in the city of Moca.
Despite all that, have the two countries ever made peace? Peace—yes. Good relations—not really, as we’ll soon see.
Why Did the Dominican Republic Become So Economically Successful While Haiti Collapsed?
A key development in the 20th century is the stark economic divergence between the two. Up until the mid-20th century, Haiti and the Dominican Republic had similarly sized economies. Today, the Dominican economy is 1,000% stronger than Haiti’s.
Why? Several factors. Internal conflicts in Haiti hindered development. Another major factor was foreign interference—particularly from the U.S., which supported brutal dictatorships in Haiti during the 20th century, deepening the country’s chaos.
Haiti’s tragedy was compounded by the devastating 2010 earthquake, which killed at least 160,000 people and destroyed the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The Present: Desperate Migration and Violent Deportations
Today, the Dominican Republic is far more economically developed. As expected, desperate Haitians—despite past mass expulsions—try to enter Dominican territory in search of work.
What happens to them? They’re not being killed like in the past, but they are violently expelled. Dominican authorities are reportedly rounding up and deporting thousands of Haitians back to a country in worse condition than ever. Armed gangs control much of Haiti now, and deportation can be a death sentence.
These violent deportations—especially of unaccompanied children and pregnant women—have triggered sharp criticism. There’s a racial element too: most Dominicans identify as mixed race, while most Haitians are Black. This leads to the deportation of anyone “Black enough to be mistaken for Haitian”—even Dominican citizens who have never been to Haiti.
In a major operation this month lasting nine days, over 20,000 people were expelled. If the current pace continues, as many as 100,000 could be deported by the end of the year. UNICEF estimates that around 1,800 unaccompanied children have been expelled.
The border between the two countries stretches about 400 kilometers. Today, approximately 500,000 Haitians live in the Dominican Republic, mostly doing low-paid work in agriculture, construction, and services.
Mass Haitian migration began in 1915, when the U.S. occupied Haiti (from 1915 to 1934). The result, as noted earlier, was the 1937 massacre.
Why were Haitians allowed to return afterward? Because it served Dominican interests—they needed people to do the jobs Dominicans wouldn’t.
But Haiti is again in deep crisis, especially after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Political paralysis reigns, most institutions no longer function.
For people of Haitian descent, especially those who’ve lived for generations in the Dominican Republic, deportation to Haiti is a horrific fate. Many barely speak Haitian Creole. Some try to sneak back into the Dominican Republic, only to face persecution based on their heritage and skin color.
Even Black individuals with no ties to either country have been targeted—just for being “Black enough.” The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo reported that some Black American citizens had been detained and interrogated by immigration officials. Detainees were held in overcrowded centers without food, sanitation, or the ability to contest their detention—sometimes for days before being released or deported.
The Dominican Argument and the Historical Injustice of Hispaniola
What does the Dominican side say? As expected, they claim to be protecting their national interests. The Dominican foreign ministry argues that the Haitian crisis “seriously affects” national security and that “Haitian migrants burden local resources.”
“The Dominican Republic has been forced to deport a large number of Haitian migrants who can no longer be tolerated and who exceed our capacity. We can no longer bear it,” the statement said.
Dominican President Luis Abinader has vowed to increase deportations and is overseeing the construction of a border wall with Haiti.
What’s the solution? It’s hard to see one. There’s a real risk these inhumane deportations could escalate into a new conflict—yet another chapter in the island’s troubled history. The only true solution is the stabilization of Haiti—a long-overdue imperative. But Haiti is increasingly resembling a “Caribbean Somalia,” a failed state ruled by chaos.
Claims that the divide between order and chaos is merely racial are themselves racist—but such views are often heard when discussing Hispaniola. Meanwhile, America’s negative role in Haiti is frequently overlooked.
It is a historical tragedy that a united Hispaniola could not survive—that local animosities triumphed after liberation from colonialism. It’s especially symbolic because Hispaniola was where the tragedy of the Americas’ Indigenous peoples began. It was the first place where Europeans established settlements after the “discovery” of the New World. Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, was founded in 1498 during one of Columbus’s voyages. The island remained under Spanish rule until the 17th century, when French pirates began appearing on its western side.
Most of today’s Haitians are descendants of African slaves brought over by the Spanish and later the French. It’s now 2022, and these people still suffer. This is a historic injustice that continues. The Dominican Republic, though also a former colony and home to the descendants of slaves, is seen as “more European,” and its perspective is more often taken seriously. Yes, there will be criticism and human rights reports—but deported Haitians, and often Black people who aren’t even Haitian, will continue to suffer, while Haiti itself becomes a land where life is becoming impossible.
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