The proceedings concerned a girl who was born to Dominican parents during their short relationship. When they separated, the girl remained under the mother’s care.
The father applied for U.S. residency for himself and his daughter. In March 2012, the parents arrived to an agreement in which the mother authorised the girl to live outside of the Dominican Republic and the father undertook that he would take the girl every year on holiday to the Dominican Republic.
Between March 2012 and August 2013, the girl lived in New York, United States of America with her father when she travelled to the Dominican Republic during her school holidays. She was supposed to go back to New York in September but the mother did not allow it.
On 27 September 2013, the father requested the return of the girl to the United States of America.
On 11 October 2013, the civil division of the first instance court (Sala Civil del Primer Tribunal de Ni?os, Ni?as y Adolescentes del Distrito Nacional) ordered the return of the girl.
The mother appealed the decision.
