©️The Presidency
Santo Domingo, 7 August 2025.- Reports have confirmed that presidential adviser Smith Augustin was detained for four hours by Dominican immigration, after being accused of having entered « fraudulently » in the Dominican Republic on July 30th. However, the Directorate-General for Dominican Migration (DGM) has issued a note to clarify the facts concerning Mr. Augustin's brief passage on their territory.
Contrary to some allegations, the DGM claims that Smith Augustin entered the Dominican Republic on 31 July 2025 at 5.30 p.m., via the border point of Dajabón, shortly after the official closure of the border. Received by the Haitian vice-consul Levaux Herns, he was unable to complete the required biometric recording. Called the following day, he presented himself on 1 August at 11:12 a.m. with his delegation to regularize his situation, under the supervision of the DGM officers.
Moreover, according to the daily Le Nouvelliste, quoting a nearby source, Haitian consul Herns Laveaux, posted in Dajabón, had returned to Haiti on his vehicle. Upon his return at 5:05 pm, the Dominican barrier was already closed, while the one on the Haitian side remained open. During an exchange with Dominican agents, he explained that Smith Augustine was on board. He allegedly refused to submit to immigration control, claiming that he was going out briefly. His passport was therefore not stamped.
Faced with controversy, the Haitian Presidency formally denied the rumours. She said that the presidential adviser had made a personal visit on 30 July, in accordance with diplomatic procedures. Its entry was allowed, despite the temporary closure of the border, due to good neighbourly relations between the two countries.
The Presidency denounced misinformation and called for the responsibility of political actors and the media, recalling that the real priorities of the moment are security, stability and democratic reconstruction.
Finally, the DGM clarified that the Haitian official acknowledged his error, apologized and completed the migration process. After checking his documents, he was allowed to continue his travel. The DGM found this incident in the public interest and wanted to clarify the facts before national and international opinion.
W.E.
