Over the past few days the Immigration Department in Grand Bahama detained a total of forty- seven (47) Migrants.
On Monday, 16th June 2022, twenty (20) Cubans, eighteen (18) males and two (2) females, were found in waters near Cay Sal Bank by United States Coast Guard (USCG) officials and turned over to Immigration officials in Grand Bahama on Monday, 20th June 2022.
Additionally on Monday, 20th June 2022, at approximately 2000hrs a team of Immigration Officers arrested twelve (12) Migrants consisting of eleven (11) Cuban, six (6) males, three (3) females two (2) minors and one (1) Jamaican male found in a duplex in Grand Bahama. They were charged in the Magistrates’ Court with overstaying and fined $500 or 6 months imprisonment at Bahamas Department of Corrections (BDOCS) with the exception of the two minors and the Jamaican male who was processed and later released due to valid immigration vistor status.
Further on Thursday, 23rd June 2022, at approximately 2230hrs a team of Immigration Officers arrested six (6) Cubans, three (3) males, one (1) female and two (2) minors found in a local hotel in Grand Bahama. One (1) male from this group was charged in the Magistrates’ Court with overstaying and was fined $1500 or 8 months imprisonment at Bahamas Department of Corrections (BDOCS).
Lastly on Thursday, 23rd June 2022, nine (9) Cubans, eight (8) males and one (1) female, were found in waters near Cay Sal Bank by USCG officials and turned over to Immigration officials in Grand Bahama on Monday, 27th June 2022. All court fines were paid with respect to those charged.
The Department considers the safety of all officers and migrants the utmost importance and all safety screening and Covid-19 protocols were adhered to. The groups with exception to the latter were transported to the capital and are being held at The Detention Center pending deportation. The latter group is expected to arrive in the capital in days to come.
