Bell: We’re Trying to Avoid International Crisis

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Nine-hundred and 16 Illegal Haitian Migrants are expected to be repatriated by the end of the week. Immigration Minister Keith Bell says the government is doing its best to avoid a humanitarian crisis as more migrants are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

Three interdictions resulting in the apprehension of more than 900 illegal Haitian migrants over the last four days.

Immigration Minister Keith Bell revealing that the latest incident occurred just last evening with 144 migrants caught near Flamingo Cay. That number includes 129 males and 29 females, with the youngest being only two-years-old.

Chief Magistrate Joyanne Ferguson-Pratt is on the island, arraigning the migrants and repatriation is expected to begin Wednesday.

With this amount of activity and hundreds of migrants on the island, residents have raised concerns. There have also been reports of government searching for facilities to house these individuals before they are repatriated.

Bell confirmed that eventually, the universal declaration church allowed use of its church hall.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper was on Inagua over the weekend and addressed a portion of those migrants.

Haiti has been in a state of unrest for months now, leaving its citizens fleeing for nearby territories and recently making international headlines arriving in Texas.

Bell says while the government is sympathetic with the people of Haiti, there is no talk of potentially allowing those individuals who enter illegally to stay. He said government must uphold the law when it comes to how a person enters the country.