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  1. #1
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    Bermuda to put bite on illegal immigraiton

    http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/ ... .immig.ap/ -

    Bermuda to put bite on illegal immigration
    POSTED: 1:36 p.m. EST, January 3, 2007



    HAMILTON, Bermuda (AP) -- Foreigners who overstay their visas in Bermuda will soon become wanted fugitives, as the wealthy enclave adopts new measures to capture and deport them amid growing public anger over illegal immigration.

    The Immigration Ministry has announced it will begin sharing photos of visa violators with a local anti-crime group, which will post the images on the Internet and publicize rewards for their capture.

    "Anybody who overstays their time is a problem as far as we are concerned because of the importance we attach to the adherence to the law," said Robert Horton, the administrative head of the Immigration Ministry in the British territory.

    Crime Stoppers Bermuda said that within days it will publish the first photos, of two Jamaican construction workers, on a Web site that will also feature suspects for other criminal offenses.

    The group, which is supported by private donations, said it would pay rewards of up to $1,000 to anyone who provides information leading to the capture of the illegal immigrants. Those who provide the tips can remain anonymous, said the group's chairman, Sean Pitcher.

    "Bermudians are very law-abiding citizens, but people may be reticent to get involved," Pitcher said.

    The government is also considering other measures against illegal immigration, including greater penalties for those caught employing or sheltering them.

    Undocumented residents make up a tiny fraction of Bermuda's 65,000 people, but there have been increased complaints that illegal workers have become a drain on public resources and are taking jobs, especially in the construction sector.

    "They may not be committing a serious crime, but they're basically taking jobs away from Bermudians," Pitcher said. "What they're doing is displacing people who could be working legitimately."

    Bermuda, a chain of tiny Atlantic Ocean islands 640 miles east of the U.S., is one of the wealthiest places in the world.

    The territory is generally accessible to immigrant residents only through guest worker programs, which employ about 9,900 people ranging from doctors and lawyers to laborers. Visas typically expire after six years.

    Those who deliberately stay past their deadline are deported and blacklisted from returning, Horton said. Bermuda deports about 20 foreigners each year, including those convicted of crimes.

    Guest workers traditionally came from the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and the United States, but a growing number now come elsewhere, including India and Sri Lanka.

    Recent months have seen increased friction over immigration, including the beating in July of a Portuguese man outside a bar in the capital of Hamilton. Leaders in the long-established Portuguese community, which makes up about 9 percent of the population, said the man was targeted because he was an immigrant.

    Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess, who took office in September, has made a personal commitment to deport illegal residents, Horton said.

    The crackdown has been welcomed by some in the construction field. Louis Somner, an industry spokesman, described the Web site as "a good effort" and said the government should go further and fingerprint those who enter Bermuda on short-term permits.

    Horton said it was understandable that foreigners would want to extend their stay on an island known for its mild climate and rare pink-sand beaches, but ultimately the territory should be reserved for Bermudians.

    "It's not a major problem, but it is a problem," he said. "We're a small society, and we are always concerned about strains on our social system."

    Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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  2. #2
    Senior Member CCUSA's Avatar
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    Does'nt this sound familiar?
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  3. #3
    MW
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    Rounding up illegal immigrants in Bermuda shouldn't be that difficult because the island is only around 20-square miles in size. After visiting the island on several occasions (work & play), I wouldn't think illegals would have much luck working and living there undetected for long periods of time.

    "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" ** Edmund Burke**

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  4. #4
    Administrator Jean's Avatar
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    Familiar yes. They've seen and heard what has happened to the U. S. and Europe I would say. Good for them for protecting their people.
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