Stateless

"People from all over the world came to this island. But if we analyze the DNA of Dominicans, our percentage of African ancestry is higher than from any other ethnicity. But we refuse to accept that African part of us."

Michèle Stephenson's documentary of the Haitian crisis in the Dominican Republic reveals a dynamic that's all-too-familiar to Americans living in the Trump era. In 2013, the Constitutional Court of the D. R. ruled that children born to non-citizens in the country since 1929 weren't citizens, as part of a larger effort to contain what was viewed as an illegal immigration crisis, resulting in thousands of people (specifically, those of Haitian descent) being suddenly "stateless," and thousands more being swept up incorrectly by authorities or intimidated by thugs. This, of course, is Trump's dream, to get the 14th Amendment granting birthright citizenship negated.

Fears of illegal immigrants committing rape and murder fueled a nationalist movement that persists to this day in the D. R., with Trump's ally President Luis Abinader (2020-present) making mass deportation a hallmark of his administration, and building a wall on Hispaniola between the two countries. Critics would say it's an effort to "whiten" the Dominican Republic, and there are certainly ugly skeletons in the historical closet, such as the massacre of Haitians that American-installed dictator Luis Trujillo ordered in 1937 referenced here.

The documentary was released in 2020, but the election it highlights is 2016, when Abinader's predecessor, Danilo Medina was running for office. It follows a community activist, Rosa Iris Diendomi-Álvarez, a Dominican of Haitian descent, as she (a) desperately tries to help her cousin, who through a mixup in records has suddenly been deemed illegal, and (b) runs for congress in the attempt to fight back through political power. It's an uphill battle on both fronts, as bureaucrats are maddeningly unhelpful towards her cousin, and there are regular threats of violence, including against her young son. The government doesn't do anything to stop violence perpetrated against people who hold the opposing view (including murdering district attorneys, for example), and instead busies itself with literally buying up the votes of the poor. I liked the level of immersion into the Rosa Iris's life and her community, even if what I saw was depressing (ultimately, she doesn't win on either front).

To Stephenson's credit, she does spend quite a bit of time with Gladys Feliz, a nationalist who lays out the conservative view. She proudly points out her family heritage, with her grandfather's grandfather (Pedro A. Pimental) having fought during the Capotillo uprising in 1863 to help liberate the country, and become the first constitutional president during the restoration period. She and her friends say they're not racist or xenophobic at all, it's just that Haitians are "stealing" their country, coming to the D. R. in "volume" and committing a lot of violence. One says she's afraid to leave her house, and while I don't know given my lack of expertise, these statements seemed a little exaggerated, as they are in the U. S.

It seems that Feliz makes her strongest point when she says "The Left here is rotted, globalist, but their homes have iron doors. They have front gates and back gates, but (they say) "the nation needs to be open. And let everyone in." However, that's contradicted by Rosa Iris, who is of humble origins and certainly of the community.

What's hard to discern, because Stephenson doesn't provide any real data, is just how justified these views might be, if at all. Haiti has a very high poverty rate, which combined with political corruption certainly led to people fleeing to the Dominican Republic (just as people flee Mexico and Central America into the U. S.), so the concern is likely valid, but it's a question of degree, and what ought to be done about it. These things aren't explored in a detailed way, but the inhumanity of the process certainly comes through.

It's also revealing when Feliz takes it upon herself to go and visit a Haitian community, instead of actually trying to learn about their experience, she sticks to her pre-conceived views. One middle-aged man tells her they were brought over from Haiti by the Dominican government to cut sugarcane, but later she scoffs "he's too young to be a cane cutter," adding "the vast majority of them are here illegally," without any evidence. Just as in other countries, the D. R. was happy use Haitians as cheap labor for menial jobs, but quick to dispose of them.

Aside from not feeling like I got a complete picture by what Stephenson gave us, I thought the flashbacks to the fictional Haitian woman fleeing Trujillo's thugs were less effective, as the interspersing was awkward and a more detailed factual accounting would have been more helpful. Still, if you're interested in learning about the nationalist movement in the Dominican Republic, this is not a bad place to start.

The year 2020 was devasted by the CoVid pandemic but this series portrays a different one of our greatest human failures.

Throughout the world people struggle for better lives for themselves and especially their children.

This Australian produced film is inspired by actual events. Stories of asylum seekers wanting to immigrate and being imprisoned for many years while their applications are processed.

Racial and cultural lines are sometimes bent or broken but the desire to have FREEDOM, CHOICES to strive for HAPPINESS without fears of being beaten, mothers and daughters enslaved never falters.

America is equally criminal in separating families, sending children into religion based foster care systems and supporting government officials who pander to hate groups.

The cast of this series are all excellent actors. There are many spectacular scenic shots.

The message of Stateless is clear. In such an advanced technological age, why are humans allowing other humans to be imprisoned in harsh prison camps while those with great financial resources are given visas upon demand.

I hope in 20 years society will reflect upon these issues and recognize that similar to Hitler's Nazi Germany some things need changing.