Haitians have migrated to the Dominican Republic in significant numbers over the last century, forming the largest diaspora in the Caribbean and making up nearly half of the region's immigrant population. This migration surged after the 2021 assassination of Haiti's President Jovenel Moïse, which deepened the country's economic struggles and gang violence. As a result, Haitian Creole has become the second-most widely spoken language in the Dominican Republic, after Spanish. In early September 2026, a Dominican lawmaker introduced a bill that would require public schools to offer courses in Haitian Creole. The proposal was met with strong public opposition. Since then, media outlets and public figures have debated the bill's potential impact, with many arguing that the political and social resistance makes it unlikely to move forward. Much of the criticism has centered on issues of national sovereignty, as the Dominican Republic and Haiti share the island of Hispaniola. Dominican nationalists often reference a 22-year period from 1822 to 1844 when Haitian forces occupied the Dominican Republic. The nation's Independence Day, celebrated on February 27, marks its independence from Haiti, not from Spain, its former colonial ruler. Some nationalist groups view the proposal as a step toward an unwanted unification of the island, a concern that has been fueled by the large number of Haitian immigrants in the country—estimated to range from 500,000 to several million. In certain industries, Haitians make up the majority of the workforce, which has contributed to nationalistic fears and rhetoric. Despite the backlash, Haitian Creole has been a part of the Dominican Republic for centuries, maintained by migrants who have lived in the country for generations. However, it has largely been excluded from public spaces such as signage, hospitals, and other areas where an interpreter might be needed. Haitian Creole, or Kreyòl, is the national language of Haiti, alongside French, and is spoken by the entire population. Though often dismissed as a "dialect" of French, it is a fully developed language with its own grammar, orthography, and language academy. Julio César Beltré, the legislative deputy who proposed the bill, argues that teaching Creole is a practical necessity for Dominicans living near Haitian communities. He emphasizes that learning a neighboring language is simply a tool for communication, not an endorsement of a different identity or political stance. However, the bill has faced resistance from some sectors of Dominican society, where anti-Haitian sentiment is often tied to racial and cultural biases. Despite this, many Dominicans support the proposal, seeing it as a logical step in an evolving national education policy. In recent years, Dominican institutions have offered Creole language courses, with some schools and universities providing classes for both students and the general public. The government also offers Creole training for public servants and diplomats. While the bill is unlikely to pass, it has sparked a national conversation about the role of Haitian Creole in Dominican education and society, with signs that public opinion may be gradually shifting in its favor.