President Abinader’s Visit to Brooklyn Borough Hall Marks the First State Visit by a Dominican President to Brooklyn
Borough President Reynoso Honored the Occasion by Proclaiming September 24, 2026 as Día del Orgullo Dominicano in Brooklyn
BROOKLYN, NY (September 24, 2026) – Today, history was made when Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, the first Dominican to be elected Borough President in New York City, hosted His Excellency Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic, for the first official state visit by a Dominican President to Brooklyn. President Abinader was joined by the Consul General of the Dominican Republic in New York, Jesús Vásquez Martínez, at the ceremony attended by over 200 Dominican-American Brooklynites.
During the event, Borough President Reynoso declared September 24, 2026 as Día del Orgullo Dominicano (Dominican Pride Day) in Brooklyn to recognize the many contributions of the Dominican diaspora to our borough and to commemorate President Abinader’s historic visit.
“On behalf of our entire borough, it is an incredible honor to welcome President Abinader to Brooklyn,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “President Abinader’s visit affirms what the Dominican Diaspora has long understood–that Dominicans play an essential role in shaping the culture, economy, and identity of Brooklyn. I am tremendously grateful to President Abinader for making history as the first Dominican President to visit our borough, and I am proud to declare today as Día del Orgullo Dominicano as we continue to strengthen the bonds between Brooklyn and the Dominican Republic.”
During the event, President Abinader expressed his pride in the achievements and successes of Dominicans living in Brooklyn and thanked them for the support they provide to the Dominican Republic through remittances, investments, and aid to their families. “We are proud of you, of your achievements, and of your successes,” he stated, assuring that the country will always be grateful to the community abroad.
The president recalled his own family ties to New York and affirmed that he is intimately familiar with the lives and hard work of the diaspora. “I know what you have done, and I also know how U.S. officials speak of and admire the Dominican community for its contributions, its entrepreneurial spirit, and its progress,” President Abinader said.
President Abinader highlighted Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso as an example of the advancement achieved by new generations of Dominicans and noted the diaspora’s growing participation in business, institutions, politics, and culture. “I am so glad I came to Brooklyn,” President Abinader remarked, noting that a large Dominican community resides there—one that deserves to be served, greeted, and congratulated.
The Brooklyn Borough President stated that he, too, has witnessed the Dominican Republic’s growth during Luis Abinader’s presidency, noting that since 2020, the president has worked to eradicate hunger, improve security, and drive investment to develop the economy.
“From the Santiago Monorail to the Plaza de la Bandera Tunnel, you are creating new infrastructure to improve lives, unite Dominicans, and usher in an era of modernity that our parents only dreamed of,” Borough President Reynoso stated.
Additionally, the Consul General of the Dominican Republic in New York, Jesús Vásquez Martínez, highlighted that President Luis Abinader’s presence in Brooklyn marks a historic day for the Dominican community and reaffirms close ties with a borough where thousands of Dominicans have built homes, established businesses, created jobs, and contributed to economic development.
During the event, President Abinader and Consul Vásquez Martínez presented a commemorative plaque to Borough President Reynoso—describing him as the embodiment of the aspirations held by the many families who came to New York seeking a better future for their children.
The son of two Dominican immigrants, Borough President Reynoso was born and raised in Los Sures, a neighborhood in Williamsburg that many Dominican Brooklynites call home. In 2021, Reynoso made history as the youngest Borough President elected to a four-year term, the first Latino to hold the office in the borough, and the first Dominican to be elected as a Borough President in New York City.
With a population of 700,000 Dominicans, New York City is home to the largest Dominican community in the United States. Brooklyn is home to over 100,000 Dominicans, most of whom reside in Williamsburg, Bushwick, Sunset Park, and Cypress Hills.
