The Bahamas has issued a travel advisory to citizens traveling to the United States. The advisory warns of prolonged interrogation, device confiscation and denial of entry. It also advises Bahamians about racial profiling saying, “as a predominantly Black country (around 90% of the population), Bahamian travelers should be aware that they may experience varying treatment in certain regions of the United States. While most experiences will be positive, some travelers may encounter bias or discrimination.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Fred Mitchell was asked about the issuance of the advisory this week. He said, “what our Director General thought in the circumstance of the immigration pressure that’s being put on inside the United States. As reports which indicate there may be certain prejudicial decisions being made. That there is a need to exercise even more caution in advancing across US borders to make sure that the answers are correct to your stay, that you don’t have anything that is contraband, make sure that your passport and all documentation are in order. That’s essentially what it says. So I wouldn’t put anything sort of exceptional about it but the fact is that there is this changed climate within the US and I think this has to be acknowledged and we have a duty to say to our citizens to exercise the appropriate caution.”
The Minister also addressed the increase in requests for passports from Bahamians living abroad. “Essentially if you’ve moved to the States and you stay there, a lot of Bahamians went there and just never came back. And so the question of having a document like a passport never arose and it appears now that this immigration pressure is being put there’s a necessity to get the passport. So that’s been happening.”
According to Mitchell the Acting Chief Passport Officer, Nicholas Symonette has told him that the Passport Officer has not has a difficulty in meeting the demand.
The Minister advised citizens to be cautious and careful to have your documents in order.
