President Louis Abenader stated that the reason for the indefinite suspension of the special visa program for Haitian students in the country is that it is necessary to disinfect all people entering Dominican territory.

“If they don’t check and they have no control over them, we will and we have to check everyone who enters… What is being said is that there will be no automatic renewal, and we have to check that (the president is knocking on the table) because I have to protect this country, and make sure that no Anyone from the gangs enter here, linked to other camouflaged sectors,” the president said during a press conference at the National Palace on Monday.

The head of state stressed that students who have already benefited will not change their status and that the automatic renewal of only those students will be suspended.

The president announced that in the next few days he will hold a press conference where he will speak “widely” about the social and political crisis affecting the neighboring country, but no specific date has been set for the meeting.

The Dominican president said Haiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, had reached out through diplomatic channels “to inform him of his desire to maintain the best relations with the Dominican Republic,” Abenader said. “He wants to communicate with me, at the appropriate time we will communicate. We will communicate with the Prime Minister at the appropriate time,” the president said in a more conciliatory tone.

“He has called through diplomatic channels to say that he does not agree to any reckless communication,” he said.