Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973–1976

343. Telegram 3802 From the Embassy in the Dominican Republic to the Department of State¹

Santo Domingo, September 16, 1974, 1822Z.

3802. Subject: Dominican Illegal Immigrants Becoming Political Issue. Ref: Santo Domingo 3624.

1. The estimated 200,000 Dominicans illegally residing in the United States on false documents, no documents, or inappropriate visas are becoming a political topic. Although local press has for years carried stories about their situation (which often state that they are unjustly treated by U.S. Immigration authorities) and Church leaders have spoken out on their behalf, the fate of these illegal immigrants has until recently been largely ignored by the Dominican politicians. However, at the August 30 meeting between Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD) secretary general, Dr. Jose Francisco Pena Gomez and the Ambassador (reftel), Pena stated that one of the purposes of the PRD high-level delegation visit to the U.S. was to publicize the situation of the illegal immigrants and to press for a satisfactory resolution to their problems.

2. Next to show interest was the Partido Reformista (PR). Reformista Senator, Dr. Marino Ariza Hernandez, called on Ambassador Sept. 9 to discuss plight of these people and on Sept 11 Reformista-dominated Senate debated what measures could be taken on their behalf. Debate led to agreement by president of Senate to raise the question with President Balaguer who, it was assumed, would ask the FonOff to give special consideration to situation of the illegal immigrants. Embassy believes that it not unlikely that FonOff note may be forthcoming on this plight of illegal immigrants.

3. Comment: Although there is genuine concern among various political parties about fate of the illegal immigrants, the current emphasis on issue seems more easily explained in political terms. All major Dominican parties have affiliates in the U.S. from which they receive funds and can thus be considered to have constituencies there. The parties are now moving to make [up] for past laxity in defending the interests of this stateside constituency. The initiative was taken by PRD leader Pena Gomez, who found it convenient to exploit the issue by taking it up in his recent meeting with the Ambassador, thus portraying the PRD as a more vigorous defender of Dominican interests vis-à-vis the U.S. than the government. The government party leaders evidently felt forced to respond in the form of the ensuing Senate debate.

Hurwitch

1. Summary: The Embassy reported that the situation of undocumented Dominican immigrants to the United States was becoming a political issue in the Dominican Republic.

   Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740259–1060. Confidential. All brackets are in the original except “[up],” added for clarity. In telegram 3624 from Santo Domingo, September 3, the Embassy reported that Peña Gómez had raised the treatment of illegal Dominican immigrants in the United States during an August 30 meeting with Hurwitch. (Ibid., D740244–0211)