Friday, March 29, 2024

Bahamas imposes new immigration rules

Date:

Share post:

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) – The Bahamas’ government announced a measure Wednesday aimed at making it harder for migrants to work in the island chain and said it was considering additional restrictions as part of a plan that appeared mostly aimed at the large numbers of Haitians who have settled in the country in recent years.

Under a new rule that goes into effect immediately, no work permits will be issued to anyone who does not have legal status in the Bahamas, Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell told parliament. In addition, anyone who applies without legal status will be arrested and deported.

The Cabinet also is considering measures that include a permanent ban on giving legal status to anyone ever deported from the Bahamas.

Other proposed restrictions include a requirement that Haitians seeking work permits could be required to pay additional processing fees and apply in person at the Bahamas Embassy in Port-au-Prince.

Mitchell said government officials have discussed the proposed changes with the Haitian ambassador and plan to present them to other officials in Haiti, an impoverished country to the south of the island chain.

Haitians have long used the Bahamas as both a transit point to reach the United States and as a place to settle, often taking low-wage jobs. The exact number of people from Haiti in the Bahamas is unknown but the International Organisation for Migration estimated in 2009 that up to 50 000 Haitians were illegally in the Bahamas.

Previous article
Next article

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related articles

No decision yet on Lester Vaughan School

A firm decision has not yet been made regarding when the Lester Vaughan School will be reopened. Following a...

BDF to conduct simulation exercise on April 2 & 3

The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) will conduct a Mass Casualty Simulation Exercise from Tuesday, April 2, to Wednesday,...

Barbadians reminded to file taxes online as filing season starts

The Barbados Revenue Authority (the BRA) is advising that tax filing season for 2023 begins on April 1 this...

Minister Abrahams’ statement on Ismail Patel’s passing

Below is the full statement by Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Wilfred Abrahams: I was saddened to...