In the first five months of 2019, the Cayman Islands government has spent approximately $1.4 million housing Cuban migrants
This figure represents a large proportion of the entire budget of $1.6 million that was allocated for 2018.
The Immigration Detention Centre (the “IDC”) at Fairbanks that was closed six weeks ago in an attempt to find non-custodial facilities in which to house migrants has now been reopened after the arrival of two Cuban men by boat outside the Wyndham Reef Resort earlier this month.
In total, 21 Cuban asylum seekers have been granted permission to enter and remain in the Cayman Islands, 7 of whom are now living in approved accommodation while the remainder are housed in temporary accommodation at the Gun Bay Civic Centre, a publicly-owned property.
Although not in custody, migrants must adhere to certain conditions and may not tamper with or remove the electronic tags with which they have been fitted. Asylum seekers are free to move about the island during the day, but must observe a nightly curfew between 9pm and 6am. None of the migrants are permitted to work. Migrants who do not abide by these conditions may be returned to the IDC until the individual is repatriated or granted asylum as the case may be.
Officials have said that the move to find alternative accommodation for some migrants outside the IDC is in keeping with international guidelines.
