THE United States Coast Guard intercepted a vessel with 396 Haitians on board near Cay Sal Bank yesterday.
The Ministry of Health’s surveillance team has been notified and the customary screenings will be conducted, a government statement said.
Officials said in anticipation of an increase in migrant interceptions, last month the Department of Immigration in collaboration with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force completed work on a temporary processing and detention facility in Inagua. This facility can temporarily house in excess of 800 people.
The intercepted migrants were taken to Inagua. Additional officers and supplies will be provided by HMBS Lawrence Major which was dispatched from the RBDF Coral Harbour Base yesterday.
The Department of Immigration is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that the intercepted migrants are repatriated as quickly as possible.
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