IOM Haiti implements MIDAS to improve security and border management
Over 100 thousand Haitians living in border areas cross into the Dominican Republic each week, and an estimated 2 out of every 3 of the 230 thousand recorded Haitian migrants do not have any form of documentation. Many of these people are exposed to human trafficking and migrant smuggling. In this context, IOM Haiti is acting to strengthen border security and migration management.
Haiti is implementing the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) with IOM for the first time in order to manage its borders. MIDAS is a high-quality, easy-to-use, fully adaptable solution for States needing an economical and accessible border management system. Currently in use in 23 countries, MIDAS was designed to comply with international standards.
MIDAS was first installed in Haiti during October 2019, at the official border crossing point of Malpasse and on a server in the office of the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) in Port-au-Prince, where the data will be centralized. This will enable DIE to manage migration by collecting biometric data, with the objective of channeling migrants through the four official border crossing points.
“Haiti’s role at the border is to make it safer for migrants. The idea is to provide assistance to migrants, but also fight trafficking. We can’t address just one part, in order to face the existing challenges, we have to address the problem comprehensively,” explained Oliver Tenes, head of the Border Unit of IOM Haiti.
These efforts are being supported as part of the Regional Migration Program: Mesoamerica-The Caribbean, with financing from the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) of the Department of State of the United States.
Additionally, with support from the Embassy of Canada and the Embassy of the United States, IOM Haiti is working to strengthen the Haitian Border Police (POLIFRONT) with the objective of fighting the crimes already mentioned as well as weapons and drug trafficking. The goal is to have both projects operating at the four official border crossing points by 2021.
For more information, you can contact Oliver Tenes, email: otenes@iom.int