The Department of Immigration continues to enforce the immigration laws of The Bahamas, with matters heard before the Magistrate’s Courts this week. Today, fifty-six (56) Haitian nationals, comprising 43 males and 13 females, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans. Of this number, fifty-five (55) were convicted of Illegal Landing, while one (1) male was convicted of Overstaying. They were ordered immediate deportation.
The group was apprehended by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force on March 16 and 17 on and
near Little Inagua, and transported to New Providence at approximately 11:45 a.m. today for
prosecutions.
Also on March 18, in Court No. 6, before Magistrate Abigail Farrington, one (1) Jamaican national
and two (2) Haitian nationals were convicted of Overstaying after pleading guilty to the charges.
In a separate matter on March 18, in Court No. 10, before Senior Magistrate Kendra Burrows,
American national Abdul K. Coulibaly was convicted of Illegal Landing. He pleaded guilty.
On March 17, in Court No. 5, before Senior Magistrate Raquel Whyms, twenty-nine (29) Haitian
nationals and three (3) Cuban nationals were convicted of similar offences.
Across all matters, individuals received fines ranging from $300.00 to $3,000.00, and custodial
sentences ranging from one (1) month to one (1) year at the Bahamas Department of Correctional
Services. All persons were ordered to be handed over to the Department of Immigration upon
payment of fines or completion of sentences for deportation.
From March 14 to present, Deportation and Removal Units executed deportation orders resulting
in the removal of twenty-eight (28) Haitian nationals, one (1) Jamaican national, one (1) Nigerian
national, and one (1) Cuban national. All required security and health protocols were observed,
ensuring the safety and welfare of both officers and migrants.
Furthermore, this week at Lynden Pindling International Airport, eleven (11) individuals were
refused entry and returned to their respective home countries. These included nationals from
Cuba, Colombia, Haiti, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected immigration violations by contacting
the hotline at 242-604-0249 or 242-604-0171/2.
The post 92 Foreign Nationals Convicted;31 Deported; 11 Refusals appeared first on ZNS BAHAMAS.
