The Tribune

A LOCAL human rights group has called for an amnesty period in which undocumented migrants living in the Bahamas without legal status can voluntarily repatriate before immigration officials proceed with a “fair and humane” enforcement of immigration law.

Joseph Darville, vice-president of the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA), said this amnesty period could be facilitated through co-operation between human rights advocates and immigration authorities. A comprehensive, archipelago-wide public information programme would be critical as a supporting measure, he added.

In a “Ten Point Plan” for immigration enforcement prepared by the human rights group, which has been sharply critical of the manner in which the government is engaged in immigration enforcement in recent weeks, Mr Darville said costs of the voluntary repatriation of any people who come forward during this time to their countries of origin could be shared between those individuals, the Department of Immigration, and businesses which have employed the undocumented workers in the Bahamas.

“Many of these persons, who have been here for some time, may have accumulated good sums of money and should be able to partially fund their return to Haiti,” he said.

As a way forward that could mitigate any rights abuses as the government moves to address immigration violations, Mr Darville said this amnesty period should be two months, a period which would allow “all undocumented people to leave voluntarily”. Those who may have status should declare this, in case they have permission to remain in the Bahamas.

However, when asked about this proposal yesterday, Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said it was not something he is in favour of being implemented.

“I have no remit in an amnesty,” he said at a press conference at the Department of Immigration. “It’s not an idea that I find attractive, but at any point in time people can voluntarily withdraw from the country and we would not stand in their way.”

The GBHRA vice-president further called for a full documenting of all people who may not have, or claim, status, as a step towards improving the management of the country’s immigrant population.

His suggestions come as tensions have risen over the manner in which the government has pursued the enforcement of immigration rules, announced in mid-September and which came into effect on November 1, with the government hitting back vehemently against claims that the initiative has led to human rights abuses by officials of the Department of Immigration against vulnerable migrants in the Bahamas.

Dozens have provided testimonials to the GBHRA alleging wrongful detention and mistreatment at the hands of immigration officials and within the country’s main immigration holding facility.

The government has conceded that it is seeking additional space to hold migrant women with children, amid complaints that in addition to other deprivations these migrants have been contained in groups at the Detention Centre among a general population that includes men.

Mr Darville suggested the amnesty period should be co-ordinated by special committees of human rights advocates, in conjunction with a plain-clothed senior immigration official.

“After this period of amnesty and voluntary repatriation, immigration should be free to carry out its usual checks for undocumented persons, again in a fair and humane manner. However, the life of the special committee, appointed by the Minister (of Immigration), will continue its work for an additional period of one month, for the benefit of those who may still wish to come forward voluntarily.”

Mr Darville noted that an immigration amnesty period was undertaken successfully in the 1970s, having been organised by the GBHRA “under the watchful eye” of immigration officials.

“Hundreds of Haitians voluntarily choose this path rather than being arrested and put into prison, where they were separated from their children who were put into juvenile correction facilities,” said Mr Darville.

The human rights advocate suggested that the committee put together to co-ordinate the amnesty and voluntary repatriation should be provided with a place to do its work, a paid secretary, and would be set up on each island “where there are significantly large groups of undocumented aliens”.