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UPDATE: All 27 illegal immigrants caught on Peter Island repatriated

- Govt with bills still to pay
The suspected illegal immigrants caught on Peter Island more than a week ago have been repatriated to their homeland. Photo: VINO
The illegal immigrants caught on Peter Island over a week ago have all been repatriated, with the two Cubans taken back to their country on Friday March 22, according to Chief Immigration Officer, Mr Dennis Jennings. Photo: GIS
The illegal immigrants caught on Peter Island over a week ago have all been repatriated, with the two Cubans taken back to their country on Friday March 22, according to Chief Immigration Officer, Mr Dennis Jennings. Photo: GIS
Two of the illegal immigrants hid their faces from the camera at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport on March 21, 2013. Photo: VINO
Two of the illegal immigrants hid their faces from the camera at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport on March 21, 2013. Photo: VINO
Three of the illegal immigrants shortly after being brought to the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport by officers of H.M. Prison. Photo: VINO
Three of the illegal immigrants shortly after being brought to the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport by officers of H.M. Prison. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The illegal immigrants caught on Peter Island over a week ago have all been repatriated, with the two Cubans taken back to their country on Friday March 22, according to Chief Immigration Officer, Mr Dennis Jennings.

The total number of suspected illegal immigrants detained at Peter Island was 27 following three operations. Eleven were captured before noon on Sunday March 17, 2013  and a further 12 later on the same day and then 4 on Monday March 18, 2013.

25 of the illegal immigrants, which included 24 Haitians and 1 Dominican Republic national, were taken back to their respective countries on Thursday March 21, 2013.

"We just have to pay the bills now, we paid some of them," said Mr Jennings but declined to disclose what the costs are.

The suspected illegal immigrants, after being apprehended on Peter Island, were transported to the Road Town Police Station where they were screened and handed over to Immigration personnel.

“Interviews with the individuals suggest that they were dropped off at night by boat, believing they were on St John in the USVI,” the Royal Virgin islands Police Force (RVIPF) had stated in a press release.

See previous article posted on March 21, 2013

Illegal Immigrants being repatriated today, March 21

BEEF ISLAND, VI- Immigration Department has started the process of repatriating the illegal immigrants apprehended on Peter Island following a joint operation among the Royals Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), HM Customs and Immigration Department on Sunday March 17 and Monday March 18, 2013.

Several of the illegal immigrants were taken to the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport this morning, March 21, 2013 reportedly to be taken back to their homeland.

This news site was not able to secure a comment from Immigration Department at post time.

However, Sergeant Carl Mason of the RVIPF was able to confirm that indeed the Haitian nationals and one person from the Dominican Republic are being repatriated today, however, the two Cubans still remain. He noted that was all he could have stated since the matter stopped being a police one once handed over to Immigration Department

The total number of suspected illegal immigrants detained at Peter Island was 27 following three operations. Eleven were captured before noon on Sunday March 17, 2013  and a further 12 later on the same day and then 4 on Monday March 18, 2013. Three men and 1 woman of Haitian descent were the last apprehended, according to the RVIPF in a press release.

The suspected illegal immigrants were transported to the Road Town Police Station where they were screened and handed over to Immigration personnel.

“Interviews with the individuals suggest that they were dropped off at night by boat, believing they were on St John in the USVI,” police said in the press release.

Virgin Islands News Online will keep you updated as new information comes in.

21 Responses to “UPDATE: All 27 illegal immigrants caught on Peter Island repatriated”

  • Binocs (21/03/2013, 09:49) Like (52) Dislike (0) Reply
    we take sooo much for granted..while there are others willing to risk their lives in search of something better...I really feel their pain.
  • son of the soil (21/03/2013, 09:56) Like (6) Dislike (127) Reply
    Home sweet home!...Bon voyage! At the least ayo got new clothes to show off with when ayo reach home....NEXT!!!
    • Child of God (21/03/2013, 14:36) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      Son of the soil, keep up the hate. God said to tell you that he is keeping a close eye on you. That's all he said so I guess you and him will work it out when he come to visit you just now. Good luck.
    • Expat (22/03/2013, 16:33) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      How evil
    • trergdffdg (27/03/2013, 08:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      i doubt you have any clothes yourself to put on.
  • hold up (21/03/2013, 10:08) Like (11) Dislike (8) Reply
    Dem men dem sharp man…look dat one in red top & red shoes…dem aint look like no immigrants hiding on a lil islands….
  • Pele (21/03/2013, 10:09) Like (24) Dislike (2) Reply
    Son so the soil
    Ur day will come continue to b happy for a next man fall .. Can u is a a$$$$
  • I am my brother's Keeper (21/03/2013, 10:57) Like (32) Dislike (3) Reply
    I am so so sad, I could only imagine what could have led them out of their country to take the chance of being captured in a strange country. There is no need for us to be critical. Walk a mile in their shoes first and then you may understand their plight.

    I will continue to pray that their countries get better to avoid their many struggles such as having to risk their lives just to survive. We take so much for granted here in BVI, but let us always be cognizant that we are not exempt from what our brothers and sisters are experiencing in Haiti or Dominican Rebublic. The day may come again for us . We did it before in the USVI and Dominican Republic to survive just as these pictured here are trying to do.













    • redstorm@hotmail.com (21/03/2013, 13:57) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
      brother keeper, you are so right on target. But young minds must express themselves. My grandfather tell me some stories about when them use to travel St.Thomas and today St. Thomas can do without the BVIslanders. Look at Santo Domingo. Do you know why we have so much of the VI names down there? because most of the BVIslanders were once expatriate. Now look we , we full of insensetive comments and rude words in our mouths about others who fall on hard times.
  • back door (21/03/2013, 11:01) Like (4) Dislike (14) Reply
    Do not let the door hit you
  • Eagle Eye (21/03/2013, 13:44) Like (4) Dislike (75) Reply
    why are they not handcuff, the police aint afraid they will run away again?
  • Hmm (21/03/2013, 13:49) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am glad that at least there were no casualties this time.
  • Nicky (21/03/2013, 14:03) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I want to hear the reasons why the cubans are staying. Since they are staying people are disregarding them and making mention of Santos and hatians only. Lets always remember that from Abraham's times people are always looking to find a better place of survival we too, our indigenous people gona all aroung the world for the same reasons so this is not a matter of jukes so sorry that by doing it the laws of this land have been broken.
  • . (21/03/2013, 14:17) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don't worry Redstorm, Brothers Keeper and sad, as soon as they could make back the money, they will be back. They try a ting, they didn't get through, no harm no foul is how they see it. But we are the victims when they finally succeed, as they will take jobs and resources our BVI people need. Also those who come here legally are the victims, as they will be competing with these people for jobs, apartments, etc.

    Do you see how it works? What welcome would they get in any country in the world arriving by illegal means? And you best believe that for everyone one we catch there are at least one who get away, perhaps more.
  • chin chin (21/03/2013, 20:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I feel so sorry for then :/
  • big man (22/03/2013, 07:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Maybe next time we send them we could make a citizen's arrest....
  • state (26/03/2013, 18:10) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Poor ole Haitians we could have kept one or two
  • Sad.. (28/03/2013, 01:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is sad....The one in the ECKO shirt is quite a handsome young man


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