By Aníbal De Castro From Miami Herald

As close partners, the Dominican Republic and the United States work together on numerous security, economic, and humanitarian issues. In our efforts to bolster the largest economy in the Caribbean and further develop our vibrant democracy, we often look north to the United States for inspiration.

When it comes to the highly contentious issues of immigration and citizenship, however, the United States might be able to glean some valuable lessons from the Dominican example.

The Dominican National Congress recently approved historic citizenship and documentation reform legislation. The new law completes the government’s framework for enacting a modern and transparent policy for registering national and immigrant residents in a way that respects each person’s contribution to Dominican society.

For decades, the Dominican Republic experienced significant gaps in registration, documentation and identification of residents and foreigners. These shortcomings hindered the country’s ability to combat human trafficking, ensure the integrity of its territory, and implement an effective and just migration policy.

Under the leadership of President Danilo Medina, the Dominican Republic is delivering on its promise to find a just and equitable solution for undocumented persons residing in the country, many of who are of Haitian descent.

In a letter to Congress introducing the legislation, President Medina wrote, “The fact that a large number of people can be born in the country that were not properly registered and therefore have no legal identity, reflects an unacceptable institutional weakness. Our government is committed to reversing this state of affairs, through concrete actions.”

The law is the product of a wide and inclusive process of consultation with diverse sectors of Dominican society. It validates the status of those currently possessing irregular or invalid documentation as Dominican citizens, finding a humanitarian solution for non-resident foreign parents whose identity documentation does not meet the established criteria under current Dominican citizenship rules.

In addition, the bill provides undocumented individuals born in the Dominican Republic to foreign parents a streamlined path to obtaining legal permanent residency, and potential citizenship.

Individuals officially registered as Dominicans, notwithstanding their parents’ irregular status, will therefore have their documents legalized and will enjoy all the benefits of Dominican citizenship. This action will allow for a fast, fair and final end to any uncertainty surrounding their situation.

Undocumented individuals who are able to prove that they were born in the Dominican Republic will have the opportunity over a 90-day period to register for a regular immigration status. This group of people will now be able to enter the naturalization process and apply for citizenship after two years of regular residency status.

Domestic consultations, as well as those with the international community, including the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, CARICOM and Haiti, took considerable time and were not without challenges and setbacks.

However, the countless hours of frank, occasionally heated, conversations enabled the government to build a broad consensus during the drafting stage and to seize this historic opportunity to modernize our migration system. The government did not shy away from addressing controversial topics or criticism and remained steadfast in its commitment to finding a comprehensive and inclusive solution.

The bill’s swift passage by Congress underscores the Dominican people’s overwhelming support for a groundbreaking policy that will help move the country forward and benefit the whole island of Hispaniola. A recent public opinion poll indicated that 72 percent of the Dominican population supports the bill.

The Dominican Republic’s consultative approach to drafting the law can serve as a roadmap for the United States and other countries facing similar issues, yet we recognize that there is still plenty of hard work ahead of us.

We are at the beginning of a new era for the development of the Dominican Republic and the island of Hispaniola. The new law allows us to move forward as a nation in a way that overhauls an outdated system, heals old wounds, and benefits the wider region.

PHOTO: Aníbal de Castro is the Dominican Republic’s Ambassador to the United States.

For more on this story go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/03/4156262/dominican-republic-delivers-on.html#storylink=cpy