UPDATE: 9 illegal Haitians nabbed in VI will be deported- Ian B. Penn
The illegal immigrants were arrested after they were spotted on Beef Island.
Mr Penn said preparations are currently being made to repatriate the nine persons.
“I would like to say thank you to everyone who was involved in the apprehension and detention of these individuals. Our respective departments will continue to work together and remain vigilant while we protect the borders of the Virgin Islands.”
Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reached out to Mr Penn to ascertain whether consideration had been given to grant amnesty to the individuals considering the situation in Haiti; however, no response was received up to publication time.
On August 4, 2021, Haiti was ravaged by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that killed nearly 2,200 people as the country was still in shock from the ambush assassination of its President, Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021.
Boat with Haitians ran aground
Over in the VI, Mr Penn said the boat with the Haitians was spotted on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, circling the Beef Island area, before the boat ran aground.
He said a number of persons were then seen walking along the Beef Island road, which led concerned civilians to notify the Immigration Department.
According to the Chief Immigration Officer, the individuals were then apprehended, detained, identified and health screened through a collaboration with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and Her Majesty’s Customs, along with the BVI Health Services Authority.
See previous article published August 26, 2021
Haitians nabbed on Beef Island after illegally entering VI
Officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) have nabbed a group of Haitian nationals who reportedly entered the territory illegally and were seen walking on Beef Island.
A police source said the Armed Response Unit (ARU), in collaboration with the Immigration Department, acting on information received, were deployed to the area where they intercepted a group of suspicious men believed to have entered the territory illegally.
Men nabbed hiding in bushes
The men were first spotted walking alongside the Airport Road at Beef Island; however, police officers nabbed the six named men hiding in some nearby bushes at Dawson’s Beach.
A police source told our news centre that upon arresting the group of six male Haitian nationals and detaining their clothing, a further search in the bushes revealed a backpack with additional clothing.
The detainees were reportedly taken to a city hotel where police retrieved their ID’s and mobile phones.
It was then, the men reportedly confirmed that a group of ten Haitian nationals left St Marten for St Thomas, USVI on a speed boat; however, the six were dropped off at Beef Island.
2 more believed to have been captured
Police sources also indicated 2 of the 4 remaining persons were reportedly detained at the same location, however, their names have not been released.
Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) will provide more information as it becomes available.
35 Responses to “UPDATE: 9 illegal Haitians nabbed in VI will be deported- Ian B. Penn”
Love conquer all, but is conquered by none.
If a major catastrophic event were to happen in the B.V.I the severely threatened your and your family members life, and you and your family members illegally enter another country for survival sake, even though you know it is wrong, wouldn't you hope that the ruling government leaders would consider your hardpress situation, and pardon your breach of their country's law of false entry, and extend Mercy.
Please: Please do understand this Godly principle.
The law of love is the Greatest law of all. Mercy is one of the ingredients of love. Without mercy love has no triumphant power of true leadership. God, our Creator, is the source of love.
Question: What is love, you probably may ask.
Answer: love is the gift of unmerited favour that another person can give, and should gave to others. The evidence that you have love, is the sharing of it with God and your neighbors. The people of Haiti, in spite of their impurities, are the people of the B.V.I neighbors. Please, you got it now?
I agree with your views but in this situation, they just happen to get a 6 for a 9. Illegal is illegal no matter what the circumstances of their plight. If they came as Refugees, that's another Chapter. People suffering in the Territory already! Born here and Belongers outnumbered. What else?
I am going get heat for my comment, but I build for it!
When will we learn
We are taking chance with the covid-19 virus. The evidence of this is wildly known.. You said, I quote, "they have to go back." You mean deported.
Consider this. Over a period of scores of years, the nation of Haiti has suffered many catastrophic, deadly desasters, especially hurricanes, rainstorms, and earthquakes, and high crimes, and political upheavals. approximately, 1 and a half million people have died in those desasters. Haiti is said to be the poorest countries in the west Caribbean region.
Yes, has been reported that some Haitians have entered our territory illegally. They are guilty. They deserve to be punish according to our law of entry rules.
Owning the hardships that thes people have suffered, and still in progress, it it to hard to for to view things from the flip side, and grant them pardon, but require only their coviid-19 virus status. Things are hard economically for us, but for the Haitian violaters things are extremely hard. We Oh so often in the past have lifted up the word love, why then can't we prove love by sharing love with a few Haitian in need of urgent help.
I urge us to extend grace to the needy, as we sometimes do for the greedy. It wouldn't cost us a great among of finance to help them. Please, let fogave this violation. It may work out for good rather than evil. If you and your family were in the situation that they are now in would you not hope that love would be extended to you? Yes, you would.
Do unto others as you would have them to do unto you
The law of love given to other is tjlhe fulfillment of Commandments, opposite of it is the law of HATE,being empowered by SELFISHNESS
These that were picked uphere did not swim or got a free ride.
Return them after they are charged. Puttingourselves in dangerandfurther need wouldbe unwise.
Let's find out who these people are that take their money and don't even deliver.
Imagine people that live here got laid off so tell me where those who sneak here gonna get work!!!!!
Try use you brain properly ya man.
We need mercy more than them. Most of us can barely buy food. Their country us in the throes of receiving aid in all forms from all over the world.
Consideration you say? Hmmm
Lol...For the clear dislike of anyone "Barrn Here" that continues, and obvious even in the comments section, and they being illegal adding to it, VINO you mean you don't know the answer to this already? Lol