79 Haitian Nationals Repatriated

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Immigration officials were back on the tarmac at the Lynden Pindling International Airport on Wednesday morning for the latest repatriation exercise for more than 70 illegal migrants.

Chedville Adams – Acting Assistant Director, Bahamas Department Of Immigration
“Our Enforcement, Deportation and Removal Unit are removing 70 male Haitian nationals and nine female Haitian nationals from the country today. This is a group of individuals that would have been convicted or arrested throughout the Family Islands. So we want to congratulate our wonderful officers throughout the islands who have been doing the good work. These individuals include individuals who have been arrested for overstaying, illegal landing and, in some cases, fraudulent documentation. They would have either paid their fines or spent their custodial sentence.”

Beyond Wednesday’s flight, Acting Assistant Director of the Bahamas Department of Immigration, Chedville Adams, says detention centre numbers have dropped as officials continue to repatriate migrants from several countries.

Chedville Adams – Acting Assistant Director, Bahamas Department Of Immigration
“So the detention numbers are not that high. We try to remove them out as quickly as possible. Right now, we’re down in the fifties, sixties. That would include other nationals, of course, Chinese nationals, Ecuadorians, Jamaicans, and in fact today we would have removed some four Jamaican nationals, two Dominican nationals and some Ecuadorian nationals in the country as well. So once again, we want to say it’s not all about our persons in the south, it’s about everyone. So we’ve targeted all individuals who are illegal in this country.”

Officials say the routine repatriation exercises have helped keep the detention centre at a lower capacity, as they work to remove migrants who are in the country illegally.