Despite the request to the Bahamas, last year, of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to grant a particular attention to the illegal Haitian migrants and to refrain from returning to Haiti persons who need special protection in the current humanitarian context and despite the intervention of President Martelly during his last visit, the Bahamas have proceeded last week, to the repatriation of 298 Haitian in an irregular situation.

The repatriations in Haiti began last Tuesday where 46 Haitian migrants [42 women and four minors] were returned to Haiti. Wednesday, 46 other Haitian nationals have followed the same way [41 men and 5 women]. Thursday, it is 105 men who were returned to Port-au-Prince and finally Friday morning, 106 of our compatriot aboard a flight of the Bahamasair jet, were repatriated to Haiti.

Officials said that the returnees were those who had illegally landed in Eleuthera, Exuma and Abaco.

The Immigration Department recalled that the illegal entry into the territory of Bahmas was an offense and that it remained firm and resolute in its efforts to repatriate those persons found residing or working without work permits on its territory. The Bahamas estimates that between 30,000 and 80.000 Haitians living illegally on its soil.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4912-haiti-politic-martelly-to-the-bahamas.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3584-haiti-social-the-bahamas-have-repatriated-152-haitian.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3298-haiti-social-the-bahamas-will-continue-to-repatriate-illegal-haitian.html

HL/ HaitiLibre