In Magistrate’s Court #1 and #8, sixty-two (62) foreign nationals were arraigned before Magistrates Algernon Allen Jr. and Samuel McKinney respectively, for various immigration offenses.

On Friday, 10th March, 2023 in Magistrate’s Court #1 eighteen (18) Haitian nationals all of whom pled guilty, were convicted of Illegal Landing.
Seven (7) were fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve a prison term ranging from two to twelve months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services and ten (10) were conditionally discharged and released to the Department to be deported. In addition to the charge of Illegal Landing, one (1) Haitian male was also convicted of Knowingly Attempting to Mislead an Immigration Officer and was fined $2,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve six months at BDOCS. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Additionally, one (1) Haitian male pled guilty to the charge of Harbouring illegal persons and was fined $3,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve twelve months at BDOCS. On the charge of Overstaying all of whom pled guilty; three (3) Dominicans were fined $500.00 and one $1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve six and eight months at BDOCS respectively. Two (2) Ecuadoreans were fined $300.00 or in default of payment, serve three months at BDOCS and one (1) Haitian national who was conditionally discharged. On the charge of Illegal Embarkation, one (1) Ecuadorean, one (1) Dominican and one (1) Haitian national pled guilty and was conditionally discharged.

On Wednesday, 8th March, 2023 in Magistrate’s Court #8 twenty-two (22) Haitians, one (1) Cuban and one (1) Jamaican national all of whom pled guilty, were convicted of Illegal Landing and were fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one months at BDOCS. In addition to the charge of Illegal Landing, six (6) Haitians and one (1) Jamaican national were also convicted of Knowingly Attempting to Mislead an Immigration Officer and was fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at BDOCS and $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at BDOCS respectively. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Additionally, seven (7) Haitians, two (2) Cubans and one (1) Bangladeshi national all of whom pled guilty, were convicted of Overstaying and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at BDOCS, $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at BDCOS and $1500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at BDOCS respectively. In addition to the charge of Overstaying, one (1) Bangladeshi male was also convicted of Engaging in Gainful Occupation and was fined $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at BDOCS. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Upon payment of all fines and completion of sentences, all migrants were ordered to be turned over to the Department of Immigration of deportation.

The public is reminded that the Department is committed to executing our mandate to ensure compliance with Statue Laws of our country.