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Haitians Protest Outside Santiago Embassy Over Document Fees
(MENAFN) More than 100 Haitian nationals demonstrated outside their country's embassy in the Chilean capital on Saturday, accusing officials of imposing irregular charges for criminal record certificates required to legalize their immigration status, according to media reports.
The crowd gathered to voice frustration over what they described as obstacles in securing the paperwork. Tensions escalated when demonstrators entered the embassy building, prompting a response from Carabineros, Chile's national police force, according to the digital outlet BioBioChile.
David Antoine, a spokesperson for Chile's Haitian community, called the situation "very worrying and shameful," in remarks reported by Radio Universidad de Chile.
Antoine said roughly 500 people had come to the embassy hoping to obtain the certificates, noting that "many people" anticipated receiving them but were turned away instead.
Chile's National Migration Service requires the certificates as part of the process for Haitian nationals seeking to regularize their status in the country.
Speaking to BioBioChile, one demonstrator said protesters were simply asking for criminal record certificates from Haiti and wanted the embassy to explain when the documents would be issued. A second protester told the outlet that while some Haitians had already secured criminal record certificates within Chile, they were unable to obtain the matching document from Haiti itself.
Several nationals further alleged they had paid substantial fees for certificates that turned out to be either fraudulent or never delivered at all. According to BioBioChile, protesters reported paying as much as 500,000 Chilean pesos — about $540 — for the documents.
The crowd gathered to voice frustration over what they described as obstacles in securing the paperwork. Tensions escalated when demonstrators entered the embassy building, prompting a response from Carabineros, Chile's national police force, according to the digital outlet BioBioChile.
David Antoine, a spokesperson for Chile's Haitian community, called the situation "very worrying and shameful," in remarks reported by Radio Universidad de Chile.
Antoine said roughly 500 people had come to the embassy hoping to obtain the certificates, noting that "many people" anticipated receiving them but were turned away instead.
Chile's National Migration Service requires the certificates as part of the process for Haitian nationals seeking to regularize their status in the country.
Speaking to BioBioChile, one demonstrator said protesters were simply asking for criminal record certificates from Haiti and wanted the embassy to explain when the documents would be issued. A second protester told the outlet that while some Haitians had already secured criminal record certificates within Chile, they were unable to obtain the matching document from Haiti itself.
Several nationals further alleged they had paid substantial fees for certificates that turned out to be either fraudulent or never delivered at all. According to BioBioChile, protesters reported paying as much as 500,000 Chilean pesos — about $540 — for the documents.
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