EXCLUSIVE: ‘Lawbreaking expats will be deported!’ – Ian B. Penn
Penn spoke on the issue during an exclusive interview with this news site on December 17, 2014.
Asked whether the Department has seen an increase in the number of deportations over the last year, Penn said that it has generally remained the same, with a margin of error of about one or two.
He said that where a person commits an offense in the Territory, whether against the immigration ordinance or against the criminal code of the BVI and is punishable with three months or more imprisonment, that person is subject or deportation.
“Again cases are looked at on a case by case basis. There are some cases where administratively the Chief Immigration Officer may ask that person to leave the Territory," he said.
Those are mostly where the offenses are committed against the Immigration Act. “The Immigration Officer has the power to ask that person to depart the Territory administratively and depending on the nature of the offence committed, persons could be taken before the Magistrate’s court and prosecuted as well,” he said.
He said if persons are convicted for summary offences or for other offences against the criminal code it is likely that a Deportation Order will be carried out against them.
“Now, I am not a person who people would say I am against any person…I am a people’s person. I love people no matter where they come from. But my philosophy is if you’re going to come to this Territory you’re expected to adhere to all rules and regulations and to conduct yourself in a civil manner. Failing to do so it means that you do not have any respect for the law of the land and as a consequence it means that you are unfit to be in this Territory and as such action will have to be taken to remove you from this Territory,” he said.
However, while there is a strong focus on enforcement, the Department also hopes to improve its education and awareness to the public on the services it offers.
“I think one of the things that is lacking from the Immigration Department is making the public aware of the services that we provide. And that is something that is also on the front burner that I will be getting involved in rather sooner than later,” Penn said.
“There are a lot of people out there who do not understand most of the processes and procedures as it relates to immigration and therefore sometimes they get themselves in difficulties. And only way the public should comply in an effective way is that they know the services which are provided, they understand what they have to do, when to do it and how to do it,” Penn said.
“I think that has been lacking for the longest while and I vow as the new acting Chief Immigration Officer to ensure that our services and procedures are put out there so persons can know what to do, where they have to do it and how they have to do it so as to keep them abreast of their status in the Territory,” he said.
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