Dominican-American Congressman Says Tourist Deaths Shouldn't Stop Visitors

The first Dominican-American to serve in Congress says there's no reason to fear visiting the Dominican Republic, but he's planning to visit the Caribbean nation next month to get answers following the deaths of nine American tourists this year.

"First of all, I'm concerned about the deaths," Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a Democrat from New York, tells TIME. "I will look into them and I'm sure the U.S. authorities, including the FBI and the Dominican authorities, are looking into the causes of them.

The first Dominican-American to serve in Congress says there's no reason to fear visiting the Dominican Republic, but he's planning to visit the Caribbean nation next month to get answers following the deaths of nine American tourists this year. "First of all, I'm concerned about the deaths," Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a Democrat from New York, tells TIME. "I will look into them and I'm sure the U.S. authorities, including the FBI and the Dominican authorities, are looking into the causes of them.