In the midst of escalating violence and political unrest in neighboring Haiti, the Dominican Republic is gearing up for elections on Sunday that have been dominated by discussions around tightening measures on migrants and completing a border wall that separates the two countries.
The intertwined politics of the two Caribbean nations sharing the island of Hispaniola have taken center stage as President Luis Abinader, a leading candidate seeking reelection, has initiated the construction of a border wall along Haiti's border, reminiscent of former U.S. President Trump's policies. Abinader has also overseen mass deportations of 175,000 Haitians last year, with a firm stance on deporting all illegal immigrants from any country.
