Turks & Caicos Resumes Deportations of Haitian Migrants. Sept. 11, 2012 written by Defend Haiti Staff

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands – After consulting with officials in Britain, the Turks & Caicos Islands announced a resumptions of deportations of Haitians since the suspension of repatriation activities after the earthquake of January 12, 2010.

Turks and Caicos said they would focus on illegal immigrants who have committed crimes or are involved in migrant trafficking.

“The lifting of the moratorium on deportation is part of the Ministry of Border Control and Labor’s commitment to enforce the law firmly, fairly and effectively,” Clara Gardiner, permanent secretary in the territory’s Ministry of Border Control and Labor was quoted by the Associated Press. “Through the development of our intelligence capability and establishment of a joint protocol with the police, we are focusing on those threats and individuals who seek to undermine the integrity of our borders such as sloop arrivals, facilitators and traffickers, whilst targeting those migrants involved in criminality or causing harm to our communities… We also continue to crack down on illegal working and those employing persons without the proper permits.”

U.K. ministers supported the decision to lift the ban, and the U.K. will continue to provide the TCI with technical assistance to support more effective border control and enforcement. Turks and Caicos is home to about 32,000 people, most of whom live on the island of Providenciales. It has long been a destination for Haitians seeking work in the territory or trying to reach another country.

The government says it deported 938 Haitians in 2010 and 611 in 2011.