104 Haitian Nationals Repatriated to Haiti

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Early on Thursday morning, migrants were transported by buses from the Carmichael Road Detention Centre to the Lynden Pindling International Airport, with a Bahamasair jet was waiting to take 104 Haitian nationals back home.

Many of them were wearing medical masks and hiding their faces, with some using towels to cover their heads.

One gentleman could even be seen limping and had to be assisted up the aircraft’s stairs.

As the migrants made their way from the buses onto the aircraft, Immigration Assistant Director Chad Adams briefed reporters on the repatriation exercise.

Chad Adams – Assistant Director, Department of Immigration

“Consisting of 76 adult males, 27 adult females and one minor female. All of these individuals would’ve been apprehended throughout the Commonwealth, which would include Grand Bahama, Abaco, Bimini, New Providence, Eleuthera and Exuma, which shows increasing in our operations throughout the Commonwealth.”

In fact, officials say there have been over 2,000 repatriations per year, with illegal migrants returning home almost every day.

Chad Adams – Assistant Director, Department of Immigration

“A lot of persons that are overstayed, whether by their visitor’s visa or by their work permit cards, always individuals to leave the country voluntarily. Increase our operations, and as long as you come in custody, you will go through the process, which means you will go before the courts or whatever the court decides. That is what we would love to be facing.”

Adams says the routine repatriation exercises have helped keep the detention centre at low capacity.

Chad Adams – Assistant Director, Department of Immigration

“We avoid overcrowding, so we consistently repatriate. Sometimes you are not here to see all the big repatriations, just like the large ones. Sometimes they have small ones, 14, 15, and they’re leaving on various charters or Bahamasair itself. So, you know, we consistently repatriate each person on a daily basis, and that’s all nationalities, not just Haitian nationals. Dominicans, Haitians, Brazilians, Americans, anyone who breached the law, Ecuadorians, they are repatriated just the same as our friends in the south.”