Massive emigration from the Dominican Republic began in 1962 after the death of dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, who ruled the country tyrannically from 1930 to 1961. During the dictatorship, international migration was severely restricted and only a few Dominicans, particularly diplomats and well-to-do people who were known to favor the government, were granted visas. Two reasons have been advanced to explain Trujillo’s restrictive emigration policies: first, by limiting emigration the dictatorial regime prevented dissatisfied Dominicans from mounting outside any political campaign against the government; second, constraining emigration contributed to the growth of the population, a policy emphasized by the government as the basis for economic development.