Gov't looking into building detention centre for illegal immigrants - Hon Wheatley
The Minister's comments came during a press conference today, Friday, November 26, 2021, alongside Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) after it was revealed that 2 illegal Haitian immigrants who attempted to escape detention at the Hotel Castle Maria, are now hospitalized.
Pointing to a recent case of drowning off the coast of Europe, Hon Wheatley said, "just like between Europe and the UK the borders [BVI] are very porous. It is incredibly difficult to patrol our waters here between BVI from any outside country."
As such, Hon Wheatley said the territory will still try its best to minimize persons from entering illegally.
Gov't spending $$$ to send immigrants home - Hon Wheatley
"For this year so far, we've spent around half a million just repatriating these persons," he said while revealing that of the two who attempted to escape, some 15 additional persons were nabbed.
"One of the things we hope to do out of the budget is to build a detention center because once you have immigrants and there's no place to put them, we are forced to use hotels and private security," he said.
Hon Wheatley further added that it is incredibly expensive to house illegal immigrants, given the two escapees also sustained injuries and had to be hospitalized with broken limbs.
He said while a detention centre would be a part of the solution, the challenge of illegal immigrants continues to be an issue plaguing the world.
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45 Responses to “Gov't looking into building detention centre for illegal immigrants - Hon Wheatley”
Right now, and unsure that building a detention centre should be given more priority than additional school buildings, rebuilding the admin complex quickly and other major infrastructural works.
Or lets keep it simple... catch and release, don't detain.
Detention centre would be years away and how would it be staffed, considering it wont be full time?
Save money. Lock them in the police cells, comfortable or not, and put them on the next planes to anywhere.
TOO , AND THEN GIVE YOURSELF A PAT ON YOUR SHOULDER FOR ME PLEASE
murdered by the influx of immigrants from yonder. The criminality and occurrences by the imported police force for assist in curbing their brothers cultural behaviour is being practiced by them. Example...child sexual molestation as well.
That's hardly a Constitution.
PS. Police and customs when you see illegals on the sea point them to St John.
Is this really something we should be investing heavily into? Where are our schools, education system, roads, water, sewerage, telecom systems? What the heck is or should be our priorities? What happen to police holding cells, what happen to prison cells? Why not change the laws for their immediate departure when caught? These alternatives are way more efficient and cost effective than what you recommending here!
What is the annual cost to house the prisoners in Balsam Ghut - in total and per prisoner? Use common sense and the math Minister!
Please use that money for the benefit of the Virgin Islands and not to build a hotel for illegal immigrants, I beg you to rethink this shite?
Is it wise to spin a thought of such expense? Illegal persons only use BVI as a pass way. When an illegal person comes to BVI their country should pay for their return immediately. There should be international agreement through memorandum of understanding. So that the burden do not fall on the government, as food, shelter and medicine has to be provided by the government. A few hotel nights and they return to country of origin.
In effect you aiding and abetting this catastrophy...You must be gaining something from this Why...the VI needs to exorcise this sepsis,not entertain and accommodate.