Hospital Deportations Push These Mothers Into Risky Home Births

Haitian women in the Dominican Republic are facing dire circumstances. With increasing restrictions, many are giving birth in unsafe and unsupervised settings. This trend began when the Dominican Republic deployed immigration agents to detain migrants at hospitals.

Katty Joseph, a 20-year-old Haitian woman, found herself in this predicament when she needed to give birth. Fearing deportation, she avoided public hospitals. Immigration authorities were actively detaining undocumented migrants, including mothers and their newborns, at these facilities.

For over a year, this aggressive crackdown has primarily targeted Haitians escaping the severe humanitarian crisis in Haiti. With nowhere else to turn, Ms. Joseph ended up staying in the backroom of a car repair shop, where she eventually gave birth.

In late October, lying on a blanket on a grease-stained floor, she endured immense stress. With the Caribbean heat bearing down, her friend assisted her through labor. Ms. Joseph described how she had to cut the umbilical cord with a razor, only to find her baby silent. Tragically, less than a day later, her newborn passed away.

Through tears, Ms. Joseph recounted this harrowing experience in Creole, struggling to find words for her heartbreak. Her situation underscores the severe risks that these women face due to deportation fears, pushing them towards dangerous home births.