6 decision with the guarantees of the due process; it must respect the right to life, to physical and psychological integrity and to the family, and the right of children to obtain special protection measures. Lastly, the implementation of such policy cannot be allowed to result in cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, nor in discrimination for reasons of race, color, religion or sex; b) the Commission required the adoption of precautionary measures on November 21, 1999, and, to date, there has been no change in the practice of the Dominican authorities of deporting and expelling Haitians and Haitianorigin Dominicans. This practice, which is carried out arbitrarily, in summary fashion, and without guarantees, continues to be aimed against individuals whose skin color is “black.” Because of the fact that they are black, they are suspected to be Haitian; it is then presumed that if they are Haitian they are illegally in the country and are therefore expelled. The practice described causes great damage and harm to Haitians and Haitian-origin Dominicans, who live with the constant fear of being deported or expelled. c) this request is being made on behalf of a given but nameless group, since the State’s practice makes it impossible to distinguish between individual group members; the members do not come forth as individual members of the group because of fear; and the inter-American human rights system would not be equipped to process individual complaints from each member; d) neither the text nor the spirit of Article 63(2) of the American Convention establish an impossibility or restriction as to whether the irreparable damage should be against life, integrity or any other right. There is, therefore, the need to recognize that other rights protected by the Convention should be subject to a protection similar to the protection thus far afforded life and personal integrity; e) the witnesses who appeared at the public hearing before the Court are justifiably fearful, and the interrogation by the State at said hearing did not help dissipate their fear; and f) the Commission continues to be ready to dialogue constructively with the Dominican authorities to arrive at permanent solutions. 12. The arguments of the State presented at the same public hearing, which are summarized below: a) There is, in the Dominican Republic, a deportation procedure that ensures the due process and the personalized treatment of deportation cases. The State has taken very seriously the repatriation of Haitian citizens who are illegally within its territory, whereby it has made a sustained effort, in collaboration with the Haitian government, to improve at every step the repatriation mechanisms, in a spirit of protection of people’s rights. In like manner, the State recognizes that all mechanisms or procedures can always be improved; b) the immigration authorities have publicly and repeatedly invited the non-governmental organizations of the Dominican Republic to observe the different phases of the deportation process, but this invitation has not been welcomed by said organizations;