Some Dominicans who have never traveled outside of their country of birth could suddenly find themselves outsiders . The citizenship of tens of thousands of Dominicans of Haitian descent may be stripped , the result of a court ruling that affects those who were born to parents who were in the country illegally . Dominicans of Haitian descent have long faced inequalities , but the enforcement of the last month 's ruling will take social exclusion to an extreme . The question of how to integrate immigrants into the national fabric and how to treat them is a familiar debate . In the Dominican Republic , as in the United States , for instance , children of undocumented parents are considered citizens if they were born in the country . But while there have been efforts in the United States to extend opportunities to even more children of immigrants , the Constitutional Court of the Dominican Republic has taken a very different approach . The court ruled that even those who were born in Dominican territory , if their parents were in the country illegally , should not have citizenship . `` This is absurd . How are they going to take away a document that I already have , that is mine , and give me one as a foreigner when I have never been outside of the country ? '' said Ana Maria Belique , a representative of a movement to protect the rights of those affected . Already , since 2007 , a law blocked many Dominicans of Haitian descent from acquiring copies of their birth certificates or national identification cards . One of those blocked from getting a national ID card was 29-year-old Juliana Dequis Pierre , who then took her fight to the courts . The high court affirmed that Dequis Pierre did not meet the criteria for citizenship , even though she had been born in the country . The court went further , asking authorities to identify similar cases stretching back to 1929 . The U.N . Refugee Agency expressed concern , stating that , `` Should this process indeed be carried out without the necessary safeguards , three generations of Dominicans of Haitian descent could become stateless . '' The country 's National Migration Council on Wednesday met with representatives of various government ministries and agencies to plan how the court ruling will be enacted . The government says that no one who has their citizenship stripped will be deported , and that a system to give them legal status with a path to citizenship will be put in place . That path to citizenship will include a two-year wait to begin the process . `` The Dominican government reiterates its commitment to the implementation of an immigration policy that is clear and transparent , in line with the Constitution and Dominican laws while respecting human rights and international accords , '' government spokesman Roberto Rodriguez Marchena said . The government 's assurances , however , have not ameliorated the fears of Dominicans of Haitian descent , who are protesting and calling for support at home and abroad . `` This measure affects us so much that we ca n't do anything , '' said Elena Lorac , the daughter of Haitian immigrants . `` This brings consequences such as not being able to work , not being able to study , to not realize the dreams that we have to get ahead in life . '' Critics point out the complications that are sure to arise : What about mixed-status families ? How can it be that many who cast votes that affected election outcomes are losing that right ? What about all the taxes they paid as citizens ? `` We are not talking about immigrants , but fellow Dominicans , '' said the Rev . Mario Serrano , national director of social work for the Jesuits in the Dominican Republic . Many Dominicans of Haitian descent are already among those with the fewest economic resources , and this takes away the little they have , he said . `` They do n't have access to the same rights because they are being treated like immigrants in their own country , '' Serrano said . `` In truth , they have not immigrated from anywhere . Many of them have never been outside of the Dominican Republic . ''
A court ruling could strip the citizenship of tens of thousands of Dominicans . The Dominican government has said it will appeal to a higher court. Government officials meet to discuss implementation .