Thread: The Bahamas: More Than 5,000 Illegal Immigrants Repatriated In 2015

More Than 5,000 Illegal Immigrants Repatriated In 2015

As of Thursday, December 31, 2015

#BY DENISE MAYCOCK
#Tribune Freeport Reporer
#dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

More than 5,000 illegal immigrants in The Bahamas were repatriated back to their homeland in 2015, Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said Thursday, adding that the Department of Immigration is bracing for an even tougher year in 2016.

He also noted that efforts are underway to have the 70 Cuban detainees at the Carmichael Road Detention Center expelled due to security issues they are posing there.

Mr Mitchell commended officers and staff at the Department of Immigration for the work they are doing to protect the nation’s borders, despite their limited resources.

Several top ranking officials, including Director of Immigration William Pratt, Assistant Director Hubert Ferguson and Kirk Neilly, officer in charge of the Enforcement Unit, were also singled out for their work.

“I want them to know that the government is proud of their efforts," Mr Mitchell said.

“This is a force of around 300 people and their responsibility is to guard the borders of The Bahamas and it is a very difficult job, and it is under resourced and people don’t appreciate the extent to which work has to done by the department.

“I wish also to congratulate all its officers for the stalwart and yeoman’s work done on behalf of this country and guarding its borders. This has been a challenging and difficult year and I do not think that it is going to get any easier. I think that 2016 will be even tougher.”

Mr Mitchell reported that to date some 5,398 immigrants were repatriated and 237 detainees still remain at the Detention Center.

He stressed that the 70 Cubans detainees at the centre are posing a security issue there.

He also raised concerns about the increased landings of Cuban nationals on Cay Sal and other small islands near Cuba’s coast.

“We have too many in the Detention Centre and it is posing a security issue for us,” Mr Mitchell said. “Yesterday, there were several incidents which led to the police being called at the centre.

“We are seeking to have these people expelled immediately from the country as quickly as possible. We are trying to work with the Cuban government because the longer people stay it becomes a problem, and there is problem between Haitians and Cuban detainees which was source of the problem yesterday,” he explained.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2015/...atriated-2015/

How many of our Cuban immigrants actually keep their noses clean when they are in the US? So. Florida, their main enclave, enjoys the reputation of the most fraud ridden area in the country. Of course they hustle towards citizenship, but under law serious crimes by legal immigrants who are not yet citizens is automatic deportation. Supposedly.

http://immigration.lawyers.com/depor...-felonies.html
"An alien convicted for an aggravated felony is removable under the current immigration law. The primary immigration laws are contained in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Much of the enforcement of immigration laws is handled by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

In United States immigration law, the term aggravated felony refers to a broad category of crimes that carry certain severe consequences for aliens seeking asylum, legal permanent resident status, citizenship or avoidance of deportation proceedings..
....Generally, an aggravated felony includes criminal offenses in violation of state or federal laws, but if a conviction was classified as a misdemeanor under state law, it may still be considered an aggravated felony under federal law. If a conviction is a state felony, but not considered a federal felony, then it may not be an aggravated felony."