he Bahamas government says it will deport undocumented migrants who survived the passage of Hurricane Dorian on September 1 and are now living in shelters.
Immigration Minister, Elsworth Johnson, says the shelters will not be used “to circumvent the law.
“If you’re in a shelter and you’re undocumented and you’re not here in the right way, you’re still subject to deportation and the enforcement of the immigration laws,” Johnson told The Nassau Guardian newspaper.
“Most certainly, those shelters will not be used as a mechanism to circumvent the law. The government of The Bahamas fully appreciates that we are a country of laws. We’re governed by the rule of law.
“There’s an Immigration Act and the Immigration Act is in full effect and the director [of immigration] understands that he must enforce it,” he added.
The Category 5 storm, with winds in excess of 180 miles slammed into The Bahamas killing at least 56 people and causing widespread destruction mainly on Grand Bahama and Abacos islands.
The government-appointed coordinator of hurricane relief efforts in Abaco, Algernon Cargill, also warned undocumented migrants against any plans of returning to Abacos Islands.
Sponsored Links
17 Actors Who Are Gay – No.13 Will Surprise Women
Articles Skill
Foster Mom For Years Was Shocked After Her Kid Told This To Judge
Lux And Lush
“If you don’t have a purpose of being in Abaco, like to rebuild or relatives and you don’t have any legal status to be in The Bahamas, you should not go to Abaco.
“For example, there are rumours that Haitians are returning to Abaco, correct? So they have no legal status to return to Abaco, so why are they returning to Abaco? So, when we say, ‘shouldn’t go back’, we’re actually referring to that group of people.
“They have no status or no reason to be there. You can’t tell Bahamians not to go to Abaco. But if persons who are illegally in The Bahamas, they should not be traveling to Abaco,” Cargill added.
Soon after the hurricane swept through the archipelago, Johnson had announced that the government would not carry out immigration exercises at shelters for hurricane victims.
“Having regard that we’re now facing a humanitarian crisis, the government is taking the decision that those immigration policies or enforcement measures be suspended forthwith in the affected areas – that’s the Abacos and Freeport, Grand Bahama,” he said then.
But he told the newspaper that migrants who have no legal right to be in country face deportation regardless of where they are in the Bahamas.
“Now, I would like to say that the hurricane has now gone, and so, immigration officials are no longer being utilized to rescue persons or in a humanitarian way and so to the extent that anybody would find themselves anywhere in The Bahamas, including Freeport and Abaco and they’re undocumented and they’re found, they will be apprehended and the law will take its course.”
Johnson said he has instructed the director and immigration officers “to protect the borders of country to enforce the immigration laws without “fear, favour or ill will.”
The newspaper reported that among the areas most impacted by Hurricane Dorian were shantytowns on Abaco, home to a significant migrant population and that thousands of people were evacuated from Abaco and Grand Bahama after the storm. Many of them are now in New Providence in shelters.
And nobody can’t be mad at them for it. Native Bahamians must come first, economically.
So let me get this straight! though not ignoring the humanitarian situation the govt. Is faced with in the aftermath of the hurricane! but I’m starting to think that its just now the bahamanian govt. starting to recognize the significance of their own immigration laws, I wonder why! was it that pre hurricane, the exploitation of Haitians and other immigrants for cheap labour was of profound economic and personal benefits? hmmm doesn’t that reminds us of situation similar in the current? :travel
What a horrible country Bahamas and Jamaica National email me about donation for them . Let mi money stays right there fi mi generation in Jamaica . Jamaica begging all accounts holder to contribute a little bit towards Bahamas relief sorry not my clean shit job money ,
Fuck the Bahamas. Immigrants were okay to stay when things were good but now they’re being tossed out. Fuck the Bahamas. Immigrants are who made your fucked up island what it is. Fuck the Bahamas.
Some dutty people. Not a cent of my money. If cant help all who affected then I will keep it. This is a clear attack on the Haitians.
I cannot believe that this is a priority for them @this time. Wow
I am glad I didnt send a red cent to that country even after the disaster they still have the dirty ways.
Unno done mi the other day when mi say if dem would do the same fi we when we prime minister send soilders fi dem mi tell unno dem na like Haitian r jamaicans dem look down pon we and treat we like shit