Confusion between Dominican and Haitian laws has placed many Children of Haitian parents born in The Dominican Republic in limbo.

Haiti's Minister for Compatriots Abroad, Edwin Paraison, however stated that this issue was already settled by an international court which supports issuing Dominican Nationality to Haitian children.

According to Mr. Paraison: “Some local sectors have sustained, with regard to the Haitians children’s right to a Dominican nationality, that `jus soli' of the Dominican Constitution isn’t applicable due to `jus sanguini” anticipated in the Haitian constitution.” I don't know about you but these two terms just messed me up: `jus soli' `jus sanguini” . What do they mean? Does "Sanguini" refer to a current Haitian term "Sanguiner" which is "Vagabond"?

Jus Sanguinis is a Latin word for Right of Blood. Jus Sanguinis is a government policy by which the citizenship of an individual is determined by the nationality f your parents and not necessarily by the place you were born. Jus Soli on the other hand is citizenship determined by place of birth. With Jus Soli, any individual born in the country is entitled to be a citizen of the country.

Many countries are still using both principles to determine the nationality of their citizens. This includes United States, Canada, Israel, Germany and many others. The Haitian constitution does  use both principles to determine the nationality of their citizens. According to Article 11,  Haiti’s Constitution of 1987 stipulates: “Haitian nationality of origin is possessed by all individuals born from a Haitian father or a mother who was born Haitian and has never resigned their nationality at the moment of birth.”

Therefore, these Children of Haitian parents born in The Dominican Republic can still apply for Haitian citizenship.

Do you think the Children of Haitian parents born in The Dominican Republic should receive Dominican citizenship?

Why do you think they Dominican government is not willing to accord them citizenship?

Do you think Haitians are not welcome in the Dominican Republic?

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