After a destructive civil war in the Dominican Republic in which the Organization of American States and the United Nations eventually intervene, a US-supported authoritarian regime is established under Joaquin Balaguer and the country’s economy comes under the control of Gulf & Western and other US corporations.

As economic hardships and worsening human rights abuses at home force thousands of Haitians to seek refuge in neighboring countries, the OAS and the UN mediate several agreements to restore democracy to Haiti.

The United States is preoccupied for the rest of President George Bush's term with the question of what to do with the thousands of Haitian boat people fleeing the country for American shores.

Tens of thousands of Haitians attempt to flee their country in small boats bound for the U.S. state of Florida, but the vast majority is returned to Haiti.