Alessandro is a photographer originally from Alba, Italy and based between New York City and his hometown. Born in 1981, he studied architecture in Florence and Paris and then Documentary Photography & Photojournalism at the International Center of Photography in New York City. Parallel to working, he is now also studying International Studies with a focus on Human Rights and Migration at the University of Turin. His work has been published on Al Jazeera America, Gioia, Io Donna, KulturSpiegel, La Stampa, Newsday, Stern View, The Guardian, The Times, Wine Spectator, Zeit Online among others.
Yacó, Santo Domingo, DR - Nov 26th, 2017 • Graciela Mathurin, aka Rafelina, was born in 1987 in the Santo Domingo area and is one of the many thousands affected by DR Const. Court sentence 168-13. On May 23rd, 2014 law 169-14 was approved to solve the situation created by sentence 168-13 and also regularise migrants, but only a minority of the people had their situation cleared. Rafelina - who couldn’t get a birth certificate nor an ID and consequently couldn’t enter college nor ever work legally - was recognized in a group to which the Dominican Govt. issued temporary permits with the perspective of being naturalized after two years. This document states that she is a Haitian national - she isn’t - and doesn’t grant her any working or college studying right. Two years passed, her permit expired but the govt. didn’t set up any process of naturalization. • The half shaded face is a deliberate choice to convey her condition of civil death and questioned identity.
Batey Bienvenido, near Manoguayabo, Santo Domingo, DR - Nov 28th, 2017 • "I felt bad and sad in seeing my friends going to school and not me" Felicia recalls. Born in 1999 in the Santo Domingo area, Felicia is one of the many thousands affected by DR Const. Court sentence 168-13, which was felt by many as a process of denationalization and - considering the people affected are of Haitian origin – as a racist act. On May 23rd, 2014 law 169-14 was approved to solve the situation created by sentence 168-13 and also regularise migrants, but only a minority of the people had their situation cleared. Felicia wasn’t able to get a birth certificate, nor an ID, because the JCE - govt body responsible for the civil registry - refused to issue her documents, and despite her senior sister was able to regularly get hers. Consequently, she couldn’t finish high school nor ever work legally. • The half shaded face is a deliberate choice to convey her condition of civil death and questioned identity.
Batey 22, near Guaymate, La Romana prov., DR - Dec 17th, 2017 • Harsson Lafortune is being photographed in the house where he lives with his family. Born in Batey 22 in 1997, he’s one of the many thousands affected by Sep 23rd, 2013 DR Const. Court sentence 168-13. On May 23rd, 2014 law 169-14 was approved to solve the situation of people affected by sentence 168-13 and also regularise migrants, but only a part of them had their situation cleared. Harsson - who couldn’t get a birth certificate and w/out an ID couldn’t enter college nor work legally - was recognized in a group to which the DR Govt. issued temporary permits with the perspective of being naturalized after two years. This document states that he’s a Haitian national – he’s not - and doesn’t grant him any working or college studying right. Two years passed but the govt. didn’t set up any process of naturalization. • The half shaded face is a deliberate choice to convey his condition of civil death and questioned identity.