Immigration – EyeWitness News

LocalJune 26, 2019 at 3:24 am Eyewitness News

Local

97 Haitian nationals charged with illegal landing

Deportation expected today NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A total of 97 Haitian nationals who were apprehended last week near Castle Island, appeared before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux in an Inagua court on Tuesday, charged with illegal landing. The group of 86 males and 11 females were ordered to be deported, and they are scheduled to depart Matthew […]

Deportation expected today NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A total of 97 Haitian nationals who were apprehended last week near Castle Island,... read more »

June 26, 2019 at 3:24 am | Eyewitness News

LocalJune 21, 2019 at 3:28 am Eyewitness News

Local

More than 70 Haitian migrants apprehended near Inagua

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A Haitian vessel with more than 70 undocumented Haitians was apprehended by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) approximately 30 nautical miles northwest of Inagua on Thursday afternoon. A statement released by the RBDF said the apprehension happened sometime after 2:20 p.m. on Thursday, and was a joint operation of the RBDF […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A Haitian vessel with more than 70 undocumented Haitians was apprehended by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force... read more »

June 21, 2019 at 3:28 am | Eyewitness News

LocalMay 17, 2019 at 3:30 am Ginelle Longley

Local

Symonette: Despite the country’s relationship with China, Bahamians should not worry about influx of Chinese

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Minister of Immigration and Financial Services, Brent Symonette said yesterday that despite the Bahamas’ growing relationship with China, the country should not worry about an influx of Chinese migrants to our shores. “There have been Heads of Agreements entered into with the government, with regards to Baha Mar and now with The […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Minister of Immigration and Financial Services, Brent Symonette said yesterday that despite the Bahamas’ growing relationship with... read more »

May 17, 2019 at 3:30 am | Ginelle Longley

LocalApril 18, 2019 at 9:43 pm Ginelle Longley

Local

Immigration backlog progressing

The Department of Immigration is almost up to date with work permit applications, according to Minister of Immigration and Financial Services Brent Symonette. “We’re two weeks behind in work permit applications,” the minister said in a recent interview. “One third of those are getting replied to electronically as oppose to in the post. “When I […]

The Department of Immigration is almost up to date with work permit applications, according to Minister of Immigration and Financial... read more »

April 18, 2019 at 9:43 pm | Ginelle Longley

LocalApril 17, 2019 at 4:48 am Ginelle Longley

Local

Symonette: No proof of Immigration Officers accepting bribes

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On the heels of a human rights report which suggested that Immigration Officers were being bribed, Minister of Immigration Brent Symonette said yesterday that no legitimate cases have been reported to him. “We have to be careful. People go around saying this one [has] bribed that one, this one [has] bribed [the […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On the heels of a human rights report which suggested that Immigration Officers were being bribed, Minister... read more »

April 17, 2019 at 4:48 am | Ginelle Longley

LocalApril 17, 2019 at 4:45 am Ginelle Longley

Local

New Immigration Bill not ready for consultation

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The proposed Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill, which is intended to replace the current Immigration Bill, was released prematurely, Minister of Immigration Brent Symonette revealed on Tuesday. “The new Immigration Bill is not out for consultation, yet it was unfortunately put up on the AGs website,” Symonette told reporters before heading to […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The proposed Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill, which is intended to replace the current Immigration Bill, was... read more »

April 17, 2019 at 4:45 am | Ginelle Longley

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LocalApril 11, 2019 at 4:34 am Tamara McKenzie

Local

RBDF apprehends 40 Haitian migrants in southern Bahamas

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A total of 40 migrants were detained after they were apprehended in the southern Bahamas on Tuesday morning by members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF). The RBDF said acting on information received, HMBS Durward Knowles, under the command of Senior Lieutenant Bertram Bowleg, apprehended a 35-ft Haitian sloop off the […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A total of 40 migrants were detained after they were apprehended in the southern Bahamas on Tuesday... read more »

April 11, 2019 at 4:34 am | Tamara McKenzie

LocalApril 7, 2019 at 11:39 pm Tamara McKenzie

Local

45 foreign nationals apprehended in joint operation

Rights Bahamas calls on Immigration to cease roadblocks and arbitrary detention NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A total of 45 foreign nationals were arrested on Friday, April 5, 2019 during ‘Operation Western Sweep’ – a joint operation of the Department of Immigration, the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. A statement released from the […]

Rights Bahamas calls on Immigration to cease roadblocks and arbitrary detention NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A total of 45 foreign nationals... read more »

April 7, 2019 at 11:39 pm | Tamara McKenzie

LocalApril 5, 2019 at 3:09 am Eyewitness News

Local

Smith: Proposed Immigration Bill “a step in the right direction but not enough”

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Activist and lawyer Fred smith, QC, yesterday described the government’s proposed Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill 2018 as “a step in the right direction but not enough”. The new bill seeks to finally address the long-standing problem of statelessness and the rights of Bahamians to pass on their citizenship. In an interview with […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Activist and lawyer Fred smith, QC, yesterday described the government’s proposed Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill 2018 as... read more »

April 5, 2019 at 3:09 am | Eyewitness News

LocalApril 3, 2019 at 4:05 am Sancheska Brown

Local

Sweeping changes on tap for Immigration Act

Proposed Nationality Bill calls for persons to apply for status or face deportation, jail NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Persons born in The Bahamas after July 9th 1973, to parents who were not Bahamian, and failed to apply for citizenship before their 19th birthday, would lose this right and would only have six months to apply for […]

Proposed Nationality Bill calls for persons to apply for status or face deportation, jail NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Persons born in... read more »

April 3, 2019 at 4:05 am | Sancheska Brown

LocalMarch 19, 2019 at 2:35 am Tia Thompson

Local

AG: Order in the shanty town case amended

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Attorney General Carl Bethel revealed on Monday that the Order in the shanty town case has been amended. “The order in the shanty town case was amended to prevent any building anywhere in the Bahamas that is not according to code,” Bethel said. “The shanty town case itself has not been sat […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Attorney General Carl Bethel revealed on Monday that the Order in the shanty town case has been... read more »

March 19, 2019 at 2:35 am | Tia Thompson

LocalMarch 18, 2019 at 3:20 am Eyewitness News

Local

Foreign nationals charged with illegal landing, overstaying

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Six foreign nationals were charged in a magistrate’s court last Thursday, March 14, 2019, on charges of illegal landing or overstaying. According to a statement issued from the Department of Immigration, the foreign nationals comprised of five Haitians and one Jamaican, who were arraigned before magistrate Carolina Evans in magistrate court number […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Six foreign nationals were charged in a magistrate’s court last Thursday, March 14, 2019, on charges of... read more »

March 18, 2019 at 3:20 am | Eyewitness News

LocalMarch 15, 2019 at 2:45 am Tamara McKenzie

Local

Rights Bahamas calls for urgent intervention at Immigration Dept. after US report

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Rights Bahamas is calling on the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) to launch an immediate and thorough investigation into the Bahamas Immigration Department in light of the U.S. Department of State’s 2018 Human Rights Report. The report, released earlier this week on Wednesday, outlined that there has been “widespread, credible” reports that […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Rights Bahamas is calling on the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) to launch an immediate and thorough... read more »

March 15, 2019 at 2:45 am | Tamara McKenzie

LocalMarch 14, 2019 at 3:25 am Royston Jones Jr.

Local

U.S. govt. highlights corruption in immigration

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – There have been “widespread, credible” reports that Bahamian immigration officials physically abused detainees and officials “solicited bribes” to either prevent detention following raids or facilitate release, according to the United States government. “Numerous Haitian migrants reported being detained by immigration officials and solicited for bribes of $3,000 Bahamian dollars (one Bahamian dollar […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – There have been “widespread, credible” reports that Bahamian immigration officials physically abused detainees and officials “solicited bribes”... read more »

March 14, 2019 at 3:25 am | Royston Jones Jr.

LocalMarch 14, 2019 at 3:20 am Royston Jones Jr.

Local

U.S. Human Rights report points to prison, immigration deficiencies

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The United States has highlighted a series of shortcomings in The Bahamas’ immigration and detention process as well as its legal framework, and said while there have been efforts to improve procedure as it relates to migrants, gaps remain as it relates to the treatment, conditions and imprisonment of people in this […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The United States has highlighted a series of shortcomings in The Bahamas’ immigration and detention process as... read more »

March 14, 2019 at 3:20 am | Royston Jones Jr.

LocalMarch 13, 2019 at 2:40 am Eyewitness News

Local

11 foreign nationals charged for various offences

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A total of 11 foreign nationals were arraigned in a magistrate’s court on Tuesday on various charges ranging from possession of a fraudulent extension stamp, overstaying, illegal landing and engaging in gainful occupation without the right to work. The foreign nationals appeared in court number eight before Magistrate Subusola Swain. A statement […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A total of 11 foreign nationals were arraigned in a magistrate’s court on Tuesday on various charges... read more »

March 13, 2019 at 2:40 am | Eyewitness News

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LocalMarch 7, 2019 at 2:40 am Eyewitness News

Local

11 foreign nationals charged in court

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Eleven foreign nationals were convicted in a magistrate’s court on Wednesday. The nationals comprised of nine Haitians and two Jamaicans. The nationals were arraigned in magistrate’s court number 11 before Magistrate Kara Turnquest for various immigration offences. A statement released yesterday from the Department of Immigration outlined that the 11 foreign nationals […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Eleven foreign nationals were convicted in a magistrate’s court on Wednesday. The nationals comprised of nine Haitians... read more »

March 7, 2019 at 2:40 am | Eyewitness News

LocalMarch 7, 2019 at 2:35 am Eyewitness News

Local

15 foreign nationals convicted in GB magistrate’s court

FREEPORT, BAHAMAS – Fifteen foreign nationals were convicted in a Grand Bahama magistrate’s court on Tuesday, March 5. The foreign nationals comprised of 12 Haitians, two Chinese and one Colombian. The foreign nationals were all arraigned in magistrate’s court number three before magistrate Rengin Johnson and were convicted of the following charges respectively. Delise Gedilis, […]

FREEPORT, BAHAMAS – Fifteen foreign nationals were convicted in a Grand Bahama magistrate’s court on Tuesday, March 5. The foreign... read more »

March 7, 2019 at 2:35 am | Eyewitness News

LocalMarch 4, 2019 at 3:35 am Tamara McKenzie

Local

7 Haitian nationals apprehended in joint operation

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – In a joint operation dubbed, ‘Operation Impact,’ the Department of Immigration, the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) arrested seven Haitian nationals around 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 1. The Department of Immigration said the nationals, three females and four males, were subsequently transported to the […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – In a joint operation dubbed, ‘Operation Impact,’ the Department of Immigration, the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF)... read more »

March 4, 2019 at 3:35 am | Tamara McKenzie

LocalMarch 1, 2019 at 4:18 am Eyewitness News

Local

Illegal immigrants arrested in Grand Bahama

FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA – Four illegal migrants were arrested on Wednesday on the island of Grand Bahama. According to police reports, shortly before 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, a team of officers from the High Rock Police Station, acting on intelligence, proceeded to an area in Felix Slope, High Rock, Grand Bahama, where they arrested four […]

FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA – Four illegal migrants were arrested on Wednesday on the island of Grand Bahama. According to police... read more »

March 1, 2019 at 4:18 am | Eyewitness News