Bahamian Immigration Problems

by Craig Butler

I don’t know if any of us who were born here and consider ourselves to be proud Bahamians really understand what predicament some of our compatriots find themselves in. Not only don’t we understand but many of us are also completely unsympathetic.

Like the outside child (and I use this analogy because many could identify with it) who never feels complete acceptance from the legitimate siblings, but who is also not responsible for the situation in which they find themselves, we treat the children of illegal immigrants with contempt and disdain.

Other countries have adopted a much more liberal approach to those that are born within their boarders, and many Bahamians can personally attest to this as they go to South Florida to have their children so that they may have the benefit of being American citizens.

However when the children of (particularly) Haitians and Jamaicans who are born here seek to assert their rights many of us would wish to see them fail. It is a shame that they only have the right to apply for Bahamian citizenship on reaching the age of majority - meaning there is no guarantee that they will receive it.

This leads to an undesirable set of circumstances whereby the individual is held in limbo for years without any real identity. A certificate of identity is issued for travel purposes, but getting a decent job is next to impossible without the necessary documentation that would allow them to be processed.

Is it any wonder that we are seeing an increase in the rate of crime committed by this class of persons? After all, our policies seem geared more towards dehumanization rather than inclusion thereby generating a feeling of self worth.

Why is it that an application should be pending in some cases for more than 10 years? Can there ever really be a reasonable explanation for this? If the powers that be have decided for some reason that the application is to be denied then I should think that could be achieved within a two year period, and naturally the same goes for those that have been approved.

I can tell you from a professional standpoint that getting information from the Department of Immigration is akin to pulling teeth without the benefit of anesthetic, and I’m sure that the department is more amenable to fielding questions from professionals as opposed to ordinary applicants.

But this is not an attempt to chastise the Department of Immigration, but rather a way of giving kudos. That is, of course, in respect to the Audit that was held over a two day period at the C R Walker School.

Whatever the reason was for holding it, and irrespective of the reservations held by some, it appears as though it was well received. A little assistance goes a long way and based on the lines there are many who wish to have their concerns addressed.

I would urge the Department of Immigration not to stop there however as there are other areas where the institution of guidelines approved by Cabinet can go a long way towards quelling discontent amongst applicants.

In the constitution there are several classes of persons that are entitled to citizenship (detailed in Chapter II Articles 3 through 14). Even so, many of these people experience problems in attaining what has been guaranteed, I speak mainly about the spouses of Bahamian males who are entitled upon marriage to be so registered but in actuality are granted spousal permits for up to five years.

There are of course good policy reason for doing so, but why is it that a spousal permit can only be granted for a five-year period and at the expiration of this time there is no provision for an extension, and a woman who would have clearly demonstrated during this period that this is not a marriage of convenience is forced to seek a work permit to remain in the country.

This is unacceptable and was an issue addressed by the prime minister during the campaign trail. Is the Department of Immigration now in a position to state that this set of circumstances has also been addressed and that such women will be automatically entitled, at the expiration of the five years, to citizenship or permanent residence with the right to work?

It is a positive step when the department seeks to address real concerns and systemic problems.

Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police.

Excuse me for pointing out what appears to be obvious to me and maybe others as well but I feel as though the controversy over the acceptance of valuable gifts by ACP Ellison Greenslade was poorly handled. The end result is that a once sterling record of service has been blemished.

During an appreciation banquet held in his honour on June 22 in Freeport, Grand Bahama ACP Greenslade received two Rolex watches, a Dodge Durango SUV, two cell phones and a decorative eagle piece. He should have refused to accept them at that time so as to avoid any questions of impropriety, but as they were presented by his fellow officers he apparently accepted the same without any thought as to whether he had compromised himself. In the circumstances, and based on the origin of the gifts, I dare say that many of us would have acted in a like manner.

Why then did it take so long for the Commissioner of Police to weigh in? Should he not have immediately summoned Mr. Greenslade and ordered him to return the gifts? And to say that his failure to do so signalled acquiescence on his part is an understatement.

Mr. Greenslade has been made a scapegoat in this fiasco and his credibility has been called into question. Although the gifts will now be auctioned and the proceeds given to charity, this is something that ought not to have played out in the public arena, especially as officers are being charged before the courts with far too much regularity.

Officers such as Mr. Greenslade need to be commended for their dedicated service and sacrifice.

Comments

[kj]

to comment on the immigration situation in the bahamas i think the immigration dept needs to have a serious overhaul its to corrupt and to much meddling by politicians make it difficult for those in charge to do their jobs sadly most everything in the bahamas has politics involved and thats why nothing ever gets done if these politicians just keep out and let people do their jobs something can get acomplished also the illegals who enter the bahamas do we really know who is here criminals murders rapist etc we have to protect our country we can be sympathtic to others but at the same time we must be careful who we let inside our country there are a lot of illegal activity going on in the hatian community and very seldom you here any one beign charged before the courts is it that hatians can do illegal things and nothing said or done thats why there is so much outrage against that community i watch the news recently in the USA where an illegal immigrant executed 3 college students he had a long criminal past and was walking the streets i think we need to be very careful in bahamas is a small country and 350000 people can easily be outnumbered by a population of millions if the bahams really serious about immigration we need to find away to stop these illegals from entering our country period.

[Monique Mason]

Shameful. Simply shameful.
"We need to find a way to stop these illegals from entering our country period."
The sheer ignorance of anyone to label an entire race or community. I thought we were a Christian nation. I have long been appalled at the way Hatians are treated in my country. Interesting to see this article.
I learned of the immigration issue in my country just this past Sunday. It brought me to tears that to know that my people allow our country to function in ignorance and perceived hierarchy.

Immigration reform NOW! Worse, born here (Bahamas), not born there (Haiti, Jamaica, etc.), but you're not Bahamian? Why not? One question kj...and maybe you have the answer. Why aren't they Bahamians? It's just sad. Does it not make sense that a ghetto mentality and criminal instincts are environmental results. Read a book, please. Educate yourself. You do not own a country. The land was hear before you were born. Who made you the owner that you could say, "Our country." I am ashamed of the level of ignorance and inhumanity. That in itself is criminal. And, you pass judgment? You know why you don't have a problem with it? My guess is because it isn't happening to you or someone you love. What are these human beings being punished for? You say, "We can easily be outnumbered." Why even think of being outnumbered? Did you do something that would cause an mutinous responses from illegal immigrants. I truly am disappointed in the situation and the response. I apologize that my anger is evident. Please put yourself in the place of the people you pass judgment on and be FAIR. Please do not practice INJUSTICE. We should be embarrassed at our ignorance. And you know what, we are a very intelligent people!!!! Moving forward and insisting these laws be changed is what we should be doing. It is an outrage.

[kj]

hi monique im not a inhumane person i travel a lot to diffrent countries around the world so in cases im a immigrant but i do it whithin the laws of that land i try my best to stay out of trouble where ever i go im not saying i own any place but the bahamas is where bahamians call home if you go to hati you have to abide by their laws jamaica the same thing try to go to these countries where illegals come from to the bahamas and you will see how strict they are with their immigration policies you have to pay to be there the bahamas is to lax with their immigration laws have you observed the usa and the policies against the mexicans you cannot have a particular come inside your country and out number the people who are ethnic to that country that is how wars are started i read monique it was going on from the days of the old testament how about the muslims versus the christians how about GOD saying his chosen people are the israelites i can go on and on the thing is we can be nice but the people who were beign nice to have no regard for law and order they bring the same mentality what is destroying their country to the bahamas and what you think will happen to the bahamas most bahamians if they travel around the world you dnt hear them causing problems im not picking on hatians you have chinese in almost every country some are doing illegal activities but we tend to be quiet why? i tell you why the chinese come in and they seem to have an impact on the economy and most people thats where their mind is money so this immigration situation has a lot to do with economics and if a certain culture is a burden to ones country this is where the outrage comes in think if hatians contributed in a significant way to the economy of the bahamas it wont be so much outrage i mean we can say we have handy man etc these are things bahamians can do but im talking about them contributing in a real nation building way and they dnt its a financial burden to us those hatians were paying to much money to have them here and getting no returns on our investment spells disaster when you come here illegally you already broke the law so why must i grant a person citizenship who from the begining already did a criminal act.

[Monique Mason]

Unfortunately I don't see the opportunity for them to contribute in their current situations -- children without a country, etc? I personally feel ashamed of our immigration policies.

You made references to the immigration policies of other countries. No disrespect to you, but I think a commission needs to study the successful immigration policies of other nations and bring back qualified qualitative and quantitative fact-based reporting...what we know, rather than what we think we know. And we Bahamians need to put our personal feelings aside and do more to operate in the know, rather than on assumptions. We owe it to ourselves and our future (the children) to take a much more responsible approach to this very important topic. Immigrants DO NOT appear to be given opportunities to integrate into the society, thereby not promoting desire in them to succeed. Give them liberty, I implore you (we Bahamians).

A more positive, proactive, and humane approach to dealing with the immigration situation is something we really should take very seriously. The current laws are limiting them in such a way that it appears to me to be counterproductive. It's probably promoting feelings of hopelessness.

I'm sorry that I did not do a good enough job of articulating my hope that our country will position itself as a fair and impartial nation of smart people. We are smart KJ. We can take care of this immigration issue and any other issue facing our nation with the right approach, research, a dedicated diverse group of individuals addressing the issue with EVERYONE'S best interest at heart, and the education of our people. Our current approach has not yielded positive results for anyone. It's a problem for both sides...Bahamians and immigrants alike. Let's try something different...something based on actual research that is fact-based, not assumption based. We owe it to ourselves and our immigrants (fellow man) to do the work to get the job done. Our approach is lax and stifling.
By the way, I appreciate hearing back from you. Sorry that my passion for fairness and hope that the Bahamas will grow might have come across as harsh.
By the way, if you stop and think about it, among our immigrants we have no idea that some of our greatest minds probably live amongst them just waiting for an opportunity to be cultivated. We are probably doing our country an injustice by not encouraging hope in our immigrants.
Thank you for your response. Open your heart and your mind to the possibilities. Dare to dream the impossible KJ. :-) One more thing KJ...What of the innocent children born there. Is them not being automatic citizens unfair? Since you study the immigration policies of the US, you know that they are automatic citizens of the US because they were BORN THERE.

[drew Roberts]

"Immigrants DO NOT appear to be given opportunities to integrate into the society, thereby not promoting desire in them to succeed."

I think our problem does not only exist there. It also exists in the rich and super rich enclaves we have and our developing in this country.

We should welcome foreigners but in ways that see them integrated into our society. In all walks of life.

Birth and citizenship...

Off the top of my head, this is how I think it should be...

You are born here and your mother was here legally at the time. You get citizenship right away. (Even if your mother came here legally and overstayed due to technicalities.)

You are born here and your mother was here illegally at the time. You don't get citizenship right away. Your mother and you should be sent home, and your father if he is here illegally.

All this with sane and properly functioning immigrant and guest worker programs.

Now, as to the current situation...

If children were born here, grew up here, went to school here, have basically lived here their whole lives. Give them citizenship, or at least permanent residence with the right to work. (I say citizenship.) I wonder if I should have reservations for those with serious crimes on their record.???

And everyone should be treated with human decency. Foreigners in our land should be treated well. Even the ones here illegally. If they are here illegally and we want to ship them home, fine, but treat them well in the process.

As to the US situation with automatic citizenship for those born there... I think their system needs fixing on that one. Either like I suggest above, or, if they are going to keep the automatic citizenship for those born there, than automatic green cards to be given at birth to the parents of those citizens so that those citizens can live in their own country with their own parents and grow up in their own country. It seems a bit wonked to me to deport the mother of a citizen who is still a minor.

all the best and I welcome further discussion should anyone wish.

drew

http://openphoto.net/gallery/index.html?user_id=178
Hey! Fish underwater!

[Rhapsody]

Quick note: there is nothing Christian about our nation. You might have been right had you said hypocritcal.

Secondly, I agree that something needs to be done about the illegal immigration issue. In 2001 I believe ti was, the Dept. of Statistics advised that roughly 1/3 of our population is Haitian. Bahamians will soon be outnumbered by illegal Haitian and now Jamaican foreign immigrants that are bringing the terror and violence from their own countries with them. The same terror and violence that many (note I am not inferring that it's everyone) pass on to their own children. Look at the murder rate, look at those convicted. See how few are at teh very least second generation locals.

I don't have a problem with immigration once it's done correctly, and I lament that legal immigrants and those persons who genuinely want to bring something of value to our country so often are, it almost seems, intentionally diverted from doing so.

And while I appreciate escape into better circumstances, I have a absolute and unforgiving view of those who

a) never attempt to become legal (many never do) or at the very least attempt to blend into or become Bahamian - if you're here it should be because you want to be one of us, and becoming Bahamian should be a requirement; and

b)those persons who bring their drugs guns and violence with them. If you bring it here why bother to escape? They now merely embody the dreary devestation they claim to have wanted to leave behind. In which case, send them back so they can war for survival somewhere that is accustomed to it.

[Maedawn]

Why do are calling the children of illegal immigrants, children without a country. Do they not have the right to claim citizenship of the birth country of their parents? If anyone is to be blamed for their dilemma, they must first blame their parents. This is a prime example of the "sin of the father". Every country( and I've lived in several) have laws to protect their citizens,this is just another one which should be respected. Why is this so difficult to uphold

[SIR LANCELOT]

Due to the very lax immigration policies ,of the United States ,50%of the population of America will be hispanic in 10 years.i predict the same for the Bahamas ,50% of your population will be HAITIAN ,IN 10 years,check the birth rate of haitians ,and how many are in your school system !

[Ta'Shar Cuccurullo]

We can solve this illegal immigration problem in a blink of the eye – make it mandatory for persons living in The Bahamas to carry an identity card. Surely if you are granted status either by birth or by virtue of tenure, you ought to have one with you. Anyone not having an identity card is subject to deportation or detention until one can be produced on his/her behalf. The identity card must be on your person at all times.

[larry smith]

Aside from the 'big brother' issues, how would we round up, detain and deport 50,000 illegals?

[Arielle Gibson A Proud Bahamian]

if u born here that does not make u a Bahamian. If I was born in Portugal and both my parents are Bahamian, how can I call my self Portugese. I can not do that my roots are in the bahamas. and yal keep making it easy for these illegal imm. to come here in the bahamas they wil never stop! We are a small nation how in the World do you think we can take in the 8 million people haiti has? I am a chritian and I do sympathize with them but we just can not do financially. These illegal imm. tend to have a million children and then wanna turn around and put them in the gov. schools which the governemnt of the bahamas made for BAHAMIANS. That is not fair, my mother and father pays for me to go to private school and go to private doctors why should they have free things? And another thing yal takin up for these ppl and they are not taking up for u.. if u go on youtube the hatians are talkin bout us Bahamians so nasty and makin videos mockin us. Yal can not continue to be so silly. these ppl have no love for us, and i do want you to think it is just hatians, ANY illegal imm. needs to leave the bahamas, and even some legal ones cause we have enough imm. in the bahamas. We do not need to end up like america a huge melting pot! Just remember those imm. are not taking up for u like u are taking up for them!

[Kayshala Symonette]

Hunnny, darlin, dearest first of many of the immigrants who u r defending our NOT BAHAMIANS they do not share the same rights in The Bahamas as Bahamians do GET THAT THRU YOUR HEAD first off many of these smae immigrants have bad flickin attiudes and i am beginning not to even feel sorry for them anymore. Jus because u born u r not a Bahamian IMMIGRANTS GET THAT THRU YOUR HEADS if your mother and your father ear not Bahamians u r whatever your mother is thats if they rnot married. Yes i dont care if they r sufferin because they r here illegally many of them and they couldn give a damn about Bahamians. They are probably in the majority in this country and they take up all of the spaces in our schools forcin many Bahamian children to find other means of gettin education in public schools which was infact made for Bahamians not for haitians to over corwd us. they cause violence in our schools because so many of them are here and are bein great competition to our Own people AND THEY SHOULD HAVE RIGHTS no honey who cares because when i become minister if immigration MAY THE LORD BE WITH EVERY LAST ONE cuz i will make it my business to deport the majority of these haitians particularly