Cubans deported as ministry navigates ongoing crisis
(CNS): Sixteen men were repatriated to Cuba on 11 January and twenty more people were moved from Cayman Brac to Grand Cayman as the ministry responsible for immigration continues to navigate the ongoing crisis relating to the sharp increase in irregular landings by Cuban’s fleeing the neighbouring island. A Cayman Airways flight left Grand Cayman just before 10am Wednesday arriving in Havana just over a half hour later where the migrants were handed over to the Cuban authorities.
The plane then returned to Cayman Brac at lunchtime where it picked up 20 migrants who had arrived in Sister Islands waters over the holidays.
Deputy Premier and Minister of Border Control & Labour Chris Saunders thanked the Border control staff as well as those at the prison service and WORC who helped with the operation.
“We are dealing with a difficult irregular migration situation in our Islands that has stretched our national resources, but these dedicated professionals have consistently stepped up to ensure we are both maintaining security and adhering to our international human rights obligations,” said Saunders. “I look forward to increasing numbers of repatriation flights in 2023 as we work to expedite the political asylum application process following the passage of the necessary legal amendments. While we collectively have sympathy for the migrants’ economic plight, the Cayman Islands simply cannot absorb these increasing numbers of migrants or afford the burdensome cost of their long-term residence and maintenance here.”
CBC Director Charles Clifford explained that for security reasons two trained officers were required to secure each passenger being transported. “These operations are vital in managing the current migrant crisis these islands are facing. Additional repatriation flights will be arranged soon,” said Clifford.
The 20 migrants from Cayman Brac were brought to Grand Cayman because of the limited resources there to manage the current number of arrivals. Since the beginning of last year 28 migrants have now been repatriated and another twenty-three (23) are in process for repatriation. But there are still almost 400 Cubans who have landed illegally in Cayman over the last couple of years most of them in the last twelve months.
Category: Local News
How many are actually asking for asylum? We never get those numbers.
I guess someone thinks repatriation sounds better than deportation, and irregular migration better than illegal entry. Keep polishing that t—-.
They will be back soon
What about the other ungreatful ones that is here the government should not be making easier for them to stay too those poor Cubans coming here looking a better life too just like the other nationalities that is here looking a better life and don’t want to return where they come from they would marry any body to stay here to get the caymanian papers what I have to say is it should be a much easier method to deport them too once it comes down to that
you know if were a bunch of loving and caring humans this world would be a better place
Deport All persons, immediately, after landing here illegally.
We can’t continue this process for any length of time while Caymanians suffer in due course.
I would be less quick to jump on them if these deportees showed some gratefulness. Now they get to think about their short stint in heaven as they step foot back in hell.
They can’t do that once they file an asylum request. If that’s the goal, the CI Coast Guard should turn them away before they get into our waters and land.
Good, maybe word will get round that if you show up on our shores you’ll be shipped back home. We have enough problems here, don’t need illegal immigrants showing up costing money.
Come by boat go back by plane must be fun eh Cayman and yet the world still spins 64 years of sanctions and No resolution. Just to punish a few ideological idiots everyone has to suffer .just don’t make sense anymore but does it ever make sense .Friday 13 th thoughts I guess ?
Hasta Dip Sh&T! If you haven’t heard, Cuba is a dictatorship! The regime is pushing it’s own people. It’s killed, enslaved and imprisoned hundreds of thousands!
To all posters questioning use of the jet, read the CNS article again: “CBC Director Charles Clifford explained that for security reasons two trained officers were required to secure each passenger being transported.”
Why was the jet used for so few people? The Saab would have been the financially sensible choice and is more than capable of flying to Cuba. CIG wasting our money once again.
Would you rather they were unsecured by two officers, which could then allow those being repatriated to attempt to take over the plane?
#CAYMANKIND
#illegal immigrants
We must ensure a free flow of capital, and restrict the flow of labor.
Work permit holders have outnumbered the generational caymanian population from shortly after the economic boom started. The statistics become skewed because some of them became “Caymanian”. A work permit was not designed to provide a path to citizenship. Which has benefited them more by the way of remittances for one.
Try again miscreant….
Yet, Permanant Residency Board mysterious encodes and applies extra “application points” to Cubans with Caymanian connection. Why does Cuba get this preference over all other nations, even as we lock up their migrants? Chew on that one Kreskin.
Ungrateful Cubans, learn Engish before leaving to go to an English Country.
why shouldn’t work permit holders eventually become Caymanian? If they are contributing to society, buying local goods, providing services that some Caymanians either don’t want to do or are not qualified to fulfill certain roles. you do know that everyone here is the descendants of foreigners. alot have Irish, English, Scotch surnames etc.
Hell no!! There are rapists among these men. I should know as I’ve had a near encounter with a group a night I was out. They need to be properly detained, sorted and forwarded.