The migrants were brought in by the US Coast Guard to Freeport, Grand Bahama, last night and handed over to Bahamian Immigration authorities. Photos by Vandyke Hepburn
By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
TWO Bahamians have been taken into custody by US authorities to face charges of human trafficking in a Florida Court after they were caught trying to smuggle 19 Haitian migrants to Florida.
According to reports, US Coast Guard officials intercepted a speedboat around 4am on Tuesday in the Lake Worth inlet. Two Bahamian men and group of 19 Haitians were taken into custody.
The migrants - 10 men and nine females, including three girls - were processed by US Coast Guard officials and transported by vessel to Grand Bahama, where they were turned over to Immigration officials on their arrival at Freeport Harbour.
The migrants told officials that they all resided in Abaco and were trying to relocate to the US. The group, which left on Sunday evening, further told officials that relatives had paid the smugglers for passage to the US.
The migrants were processed in Freeport and are expected to be transported to the New Providence, where they will be detained at the Detention Centre to await repatriation.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 2 months ago
Why were these Haitians brought back to the Bahamas?
What kind of stupid policy is this? This immigration issue is an American problem. No one wants to come to the Bahamas they're trying to get to the US.
So why are we being made to pay? And why is our government accepting this bully bull from the USA?
Deny this. Tell the USA they were caught in UIS waters and it's their problem not ours. STAND YOUR GROUND AGAINST THESE US BULLIES......
concernedcitizen 9 years, 2 months ago
Yeah stand your ground ,Until the US puts a travel advisory on us and closes the pre flight US immigration clearance .Since 80 to 90 % of our tourist come from the US they are the boss ,Who feeds you rules you When we would not send Ninety they slowed custom /immigration down and had the airport in Nassau backed up to Wulff road ,,Xenophopia ia amusing considering we count on FDI ,Tourism ,Wealth management for foreigners to eat ,,lol
My2cents 9 years, 2 months ago
It's not xenophobia...illegal immigration is a real issue, even if people fail to acknowledge it. I agree with proudloudandfnm because either it's accepting countless illegal immigrants and paying for their temporary repatriation or taking a stand. Either way, the country suffers tremendously.
If we are directed toward self sufficiency because of our stand...the Bahamas would be better off in the long tun. The continued trajectory ( see article) will only keep the the cycle going until there is no choice...and the Bahamas is no more.
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