DAJABON, Dominican Republic (AP) — The president of the Dominican Republic announced Thursday that he would close all borders with neighboring Haiti starting Friday despite a flurry of last-minute meetings to prevent him from taking such action. Those who live in Haiti but work in the Dominican Republic also cross the border daily. Jorge Duany, an anthropology professor at Florida International University who has studied Caribbean nationalism and migration, said tensions between Haiti and the Dominican Republic flare every so often amid simmering resentment. On Wednesday, Haiti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was meeting with Dominican officials in the Dominican Republic to talk about the situation. He said one of his young daughters is sick and he needs to take her to the hospital, adding that he doesn’t mind risking not being able to return despite having a job at a banana farm in the Dominican Republic.

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Persons: DAJABON, Luis Abinader, ”, Pichelo Petijon, Abinader, Jorge Duany, Ariel Henry, ___ Coto Organizations: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Florida International University, Haitian, Haiti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dominican Locations: Dominican Republic, Dominican, Hispaniola, Dajabon, Haiti, Caribbean, San Juan , Puerto Rico