Regional

Region Grapples with Irregular Migration from Cuba

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Fifty more irregular migrants from Cuba made landfall this week, as Immigration Minister Keith Bell reveals more about the recent upswing in irregular migration from Cuba.

Published

1 year ago

January 12, 2023

Marlena Leonard

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Fifty more irregular migrants from Cuba made landfall this week, as Immigration Minister Keith Bell reveals more about the recent upswing in irregular migration from Cuba.

Last week, the immigration minister revealed that more than 50 percent of the current detainees at the detention center are Cuban.

We’ve certainly seen the evidence of this spike in irregular migration from our southern neighbors, as the recent landing is the second incident for the week.

Our News was on the scene as immigration officers combed the Marshall Road area on Monday.

Florida’s Governor Ron Desantis signed an executive order last Friday, activating the National Guard to assist local agencies with the overwhelming number of landings.

While nearly 900 migrants were intercepted in the U.S. during 2021’s fiscal year, American authorities have reported that more than 4,000 Cuban migrants were intercepted at sea since October 1, 2022.

As for how The Bahamas is handling the situation, Bell tells us new tactics have made smuggling harder to spot, resulting in heightened surveillance of our waters.