Haitian migrants detained on Virgin Gorda after illegally entering the territory
Nineteen illegal immigrants are now in the custody of the British Virgin Islands Department of Immigration following a joint exercise by the officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and the Immigration Department carried out on Virgin Gorda on January 16. The Haitian migrants were detained close to the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour after illegally entering the territory, according to the Immigration Department and the Police Information Office.
Chief Immigration Officer Ian Penn confirmed that the migrants, which included twelve men, four women and four children, would be detained following intake interviews and Covid-19 testing administered by the BVI Health Service Authority.
According to law enforcement agencies, in 2022, at least 94 migrants were detained after illegally entering the territory. While a majority of those detained were Haitian, migrants from other countries within the region were held as well including a 9 month old baby among a group of Cubans nationals.
Officials have struggled to house the detained migrants while processing them and at least 14 have escaped from the temporary detention facility between October 2021 and August 2022.
Last year, increased migration in the region drew the attention of international agencies such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In May, UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said during a press briefing in Geneva, Switzerland that the agency had become “increasingly concerned” about the growing number of Haitians who had resorted to utilising dangerous methods to try to cross the Caribbean Sea, often in overloaded and unseaworthy boats.
The Joint Task Force, which includes immigration, customs and the police, will continue working together to ensure that cohesive plans are executed to prioritise the safety of the territory’s residents and the security of its borders. The public has been asked to be on the lookout for more migrants on the island and to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities at sea.
