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Immigration reform is perhaps the most complex policy to enact, let alone enforce, without stepping on individuals' human rights or on the toes of a certain group of people.

I realize there is an undercurrent of tension right now as it relates to this delicate topic, but it's important to discuss. This is why, in my opinion, no one has the perfect solution or answers; not even major developed countries.

Nevertheless, elected politicians have an obligation and a duty to come up with a comprehensive approach and viable solutions in the best interest of Turks and Caicos Islands.

The impact of the recent pandemic has created even more of a nightmare for many countries around the world. As a result, many people are suffering and in dire straits of basic needs.

Amid the fears and instability in our neighboring country like Haiti, its pretty evident. As we can see, without intervention, it is forcing hundreds, if not thousands of illegal migrants, to risk their lives to reach our shores.

Years ago, political pundits were taken aback when the former premier (Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson) stated that she cannot stop the illegal Haitian sloops from coming. Although, not politically correct, it has proven to be factual. Despite their tireless efforts, with some progress being made in recent months, which political party has yet to show they can?

For decades our country has dealt with illegal immigration, primarily Haitian and Dominican Republic nationals, and there seems to be no real solutions or end in sight.

Recently, many other nationalities are seizing on the opportunities and taking advantage of the loopholes in our immigration system and porous borders. I'm inclined to believe we literally have thousands of undocumented immigrants living in our country under the shadows, be it from undetected illegal boats coming ashore or persons who have overstayed their visas.

The recent voters list published by Turks and Caicos SUN, which showed only 9,034 registered voters out of a population of approximately 45,000, could be indicative of the magnitude of our illegal immigration problems.

Currently, there are ongoing discussions of enlarging our franchise through a legal framework with descendants of Turks and Caicos Islands. Looking at it through this prism, although noteworthy, we ought to be careful not to rush this initiative. In doing so, it could be consequential. In the interim, why not deal with the problem at hand?

In a small island nation like Turks and Caicos Islands, unchecked immigration could threaten the very fabric of our society in terms of our culture, the burden on our existing welfare system, etc.

What we need is zero tolerance for illegal immigration. Although we are advocates for human rights, our country has a rule of law that must be adhered to.

In order to properly enforce our current laws and bring about real change, the government will need to have stronger checks and balances in place, in addition to implementing more aggressive deterrent tactics.

Such as, a better tracking system for overstayed visas under the Operation Guardian programme.

* Imposing hefty fines for hiring illegals or aiding and abetting illegal entry.

* Housing enforcement of make-shift shacks erected on vacant properties, be it government or private.

* Investing heavily in border control and protecting our sovereign water ways.

* Increasing unannounced worksite immigration inspections, etc.

It's unfortunate, but given the rapid decline of our indigenous population over the years and the construction boom, the country cannot continue to thrive and survive without foreign workers.

The reality is, our country does not have sufficient local labor force to meet the construction demands and the growing need for workers in the service industry.

The question is, at what point are we willing to accept this reality? I also believe there is a broader appetite by the public for the government to make some necessary amendments to our current immigration policies.

It's evident, the British government which is ultimately responsible for our external security, is only spoon-feeding us when we cry out.

Im afraid, the road we are currently on, it's putting the country in a very precarious position which will be difficult to rebound. With that being said, there are other options the government should also consider to help mitigate the internal and external impending threats.

The first option: Whilst developing bilateral security partnerships is great, lets ramp up the pressure on the British government to station their own coastguard ship in our waters on a semi-permanent basis. This will help to deal with the constant interceptions of illegal vessels and less reliance on the US and Bahamian Coastguard.

With our limited marine resources, why are we processing hundreds of illegal migrants on our shores? Our system was not designed to house and support such levels of immigration. The high cost of repatriation is draining our already strapped fiscal budget, which in turn creates other economic shortfalls for the country.

The second option: Consider passing an amnesty bill with a path to citizenship for those without criminal records who can prove they have entered the country prior to XYZ date.

For eligibility, such persons would have to provide some form of legal documentation, work history, passport and credible references.

Obviously, this will need to be a well thought out process and will require some kind of Think Tank committee to brainstorm this to see what the legal ramifications may be. It will also need to include our census bureau embarking on a countrywide effort for a more accurate headcount.

By doing this, we may accomplish a number of things, for one, it will decrease what I would characterize as the slave labor pool in our country. In addition, it will allow those who were once illegal to pay into our NHIB, NIB health and retirement system rather than draining it at our own expense.

The bottom line is, its a broken system and we cannot continue to kick the can down the road. If we operate the same way we will get the same results.

As we have seen over the years, even though many of these voyages could be very treacherous, these migrants are undeterred by the seemingly odds of dying to get to TCI.

Therefore, it is futile to just sit back, complain and think it will magically go away. Because, at the end of the day, they are here, living and working among us undetected and have been for years. Something unprecedented must be done.

Illegal immigration is a matter that should concern all of us. Whether or not we choose to confront the problem, or just put a bandaid on it, its definitely something we need to tackle head on.

* Ed Forbes is a native Turks and Caicos Islander, who spent 30 plus years studying and working in the USA. He holds an Associate degree in Criminal Justice and an Honorary degree in Criminology along with various legal and professional certifications in crime prevention and journalism. Ed resides in Grand Turk and is the co-founder and operator of Exclusive Escapes Tours.

The rest is here:
Illegal immigration, still a real threat in TCI - Turks and Caicos Sun

Source: SCMO

The Bishops' Conference of Scotland have issued the following statement today, in response to the UK Government's Illegal Immigration Bill.

"People come to the UK for a multitude of reasons. Numerous are driven from their homes by persecution, conflict, poverty, natural disasters, or lack of opportunities. Many of them attempt the extremely dangerous journey across the Channel to reach the relative safety of the UK.

Everyone would like to see the end of dangerous Channel crossings using small boats, however, the UK Government's Illegal Immigration Bill, the stated purpose of which is to bring an end to these crossings, raises more questions than it provides answers.

The Bill fails to provide sufficient detail on the establishment of more safe and legal routes for people seeking sanctuary in the UK. These routes, which are a lifeline to many desperate and vulnerable people, are essential if the Government is serious about ending perilous Channel crossings. Due to their very vulnerability many refugees and asylum seekers cannot possibly have all the necessary documentation with them. This proposed Bill will automatically force their removal regardless of how or why they came here.

There is also a pressing need for reform of the asylum process which currently has a backlog of hundreds of thousands of asylum applications. The Government must remember that behind each application is a human being. The establishment of asylum processing centres in France could help speed up the process and provide a safe, legal route for vulnerable people to come to the UK.

We call on the UK Government to provide an assurance that it will respect the terms of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Refugee Convention, and its obligations to victims of modern slavery.

These people are our fellow human beings, our brothers and sisters, and regardless of their immigration status their intrinsic dignity must be upheld."

See the rest here:
Scottish Bishops response to Illegal Immigration Bill | ICN - Independent Catholic News

OCPA really is doubling down on giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants (by definition, repeat lawbreakers). So much for believing in the rule of law, eh?

Time to address illegal immigration, uninsured drivers

By Jonathan Small

Theres a link between illegal immigration and uninsured driving in Oklahoma. Those who enter our nation illegally cannot easily obtain auto insurance, yet they still drive on our roads every day. When those illegal immigrants are in a car accident, the other driver is then left footing the bill either out of pocket or through higher insurance premiums.

The best solution to this problem is for the federal government to control our nations borders. But, knowing that is not likely in the immediate future, state policymakers must take action to mitigate the harm caused by the federal governments failure.

One way to reduce a share of the problems created by illegal immigration is for Oklahoma state lawmakers to authorize drivers licenses for some illegal immigrantseven though that may sound counterintuitive.

Lawmakers in the Oklahoma Legislature have introduced House Bill 2114 and Senate Bill 669. Both measures would create a way for people who file taxes but are illegal aliens to receive an Oklahoma drivers license.

The license process would involve a few small differences from the normal process. First, the associated fees would be higher than for licenses issued to citizens.

Second, the licenses would clearly indicate the holder is a non-resident, which will prevent the licenses from being used as proof of citizenship or legal residency.

Third, the license information would be reported to voter registration officials.

There are several benefits to this proposal. Only those filing income taxesin other words, illegal immigrants who are gainfully employedwould benefit. Having a drivers license would make it easier for those individuals to obtain car insurance. By some estimates, if signed into law these legislative proposals could reduce uninsured driving in Oklahoma by up to 75 percent. That would benefit all Oklahomans and drive down our high auto-insurance rates, which are inflated today because of the routine cost-shifting created by uninsured drivers.

The bills also provide election-security safeguards. For the first time election officials would have data on non-citizens and could ensure those individuals are not on voter rolls and illegally voting.

I do not claim these proposals are ideal. In a nation where the rule of law was enforced and border security prioritized, these bills would not be necessary.

Oklahomans are rightfully angry about the flood of illegal immigration into our nation and state. The federal government has completely failed to secure our borders and also made it extremely cumbersome to obtain legal access to this country. Local families bear the burden of the resulting chaos in many ways.

But killing either of these two bills will not reduce illegal immigration. In contrast, passing them will help offset some harm created by illegal immigration. Its better for state policymakers to do whatever good they can, when they can, than to wait for years hoping the federal government will suddenly change course on border security.

Jonathan Small serves as president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs.

More here:
OCPA column: Time to address illegal immigration, uninsured ... - Muskogee Politico

A number of people gathered in Leigh-on-Sea this weekend to hold a protest against the Government's Illegal Immigration bill. The protest, organised by All Rise Collective, saw attendees from across the political spectrum turn up.

Locals gathered outside the constituency office of the MP for Southend West, Anna Firth, on Saturday (March 18) to protest against comments made by the Tory politician. During a discussion about immigration, she said "one of the most common complaints" she hears is about the use of hotels to house asylum seekers whilst homelessness is on the rise.

Protesters brought paper boats and letters for people to sign and post to the Southend MP. The protesting group said they "felt a duty" to tell their MP "her actions are in contrast to the compassion she claims to have for vulnerable people".

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They added: "We wholeheartedly believe the Illegal Immigration Bill going through parliament and the language surrounding this bill is scapegoating the most vulnerable to distract voters from the Conservatives abysmal 13 years in power."

Ms Firth, the MP for Southend West, said in the Commons on March 7: "Constituents in Southend West will warmly welcome the fact that this Government are taking a clear stand against illegal immigration, breaking the business model that the vile people-smuggling gangs depend on and stopping the boats.

"However, one of the most common complaints I hear on the doorstep is about expensive hotels housing asylum seekers while homelessness, sometimes including our armed forces veterans, is on the rise.

"Does my right honourable and learned Friend agree with me that that is not just unfair on the British taxpayer, but deeply unfair on those genuinely in need who are waiting patiently and legally for a roof over their heads?"

Responding, the Home Secretary said: "My hon. Friend is absolutely right to speak for the good people of Southend West in the way she does. The reality is that we have far too many people coming here. They put pressure on our accommodation, and therefore we are now forced to accommodate them in the expensive hotel estate.

"That cannot continue. It is costly, it is inappropriate and, frankly, it is unfair on the asylum seeker, because it is no fit place to stay for an indefinite period of time."

The Government's new Illegal Immigration Bill has been widely criticised as being draconian, whilst the UN said it is a clear breach of the Refugee Convention. Under the new rules, those who arrive in the UK by crossing the Channel illegally will not be entitled to use Modern Slavery laws to prevent their removal.

Only unaccompanied children, those medically unfit to fly and "at risk of serious and irreversible harm" in the country they would be deported to will be allowed to stay in the UK. People face being sent to their homeland or a "safe third country" such as Rwanda, the Mirror reports.

Stephanie Golder from All Rise Collective said Annas policy on refugees is out of sight, out of mind. She doesnt want to see any more children drown in the Channel, but doesnt want to give those children a safe route to come to this country. Why are we punishing children for the choices of adults? The only way to stop gangs is to provide proper legal routes.

It is a disgrace that Anna brought up the plight of the homeless, when it is in fact a political decision by her own party not to house them and nothing to do with refugees. Her statement that criminals are pushing veterans to the back of the housing queue is based on no facts whatsoever, when ex-service personnel actually get priority for housing in Southend.

The Tories have come up with 43 schemes to deter small boat crossings and they have failed every single time. Rather than put a dent in the profits of gangs, we end up with more children dead in the Channel. We wont forget Annas callousness when we go to the polls.

You could give each person arriving by small boats a million pounds and it still wouldnt be as much as the government lost through Track & Trace and dodgy PPE contracts. Lets not allow the Tories to divide and rule through their cruel culture war.

Sarah Yapp from Southend-on-Sea Climate Coalition added: "Anna said that the small boats problem is part of a wider, global migration crisis and shes right this crisis is exasperated by her government not only selling billions of pounds of arms to human rights-abusing countries but also by refusing to take any real action on the climate crisis.

"With 1.2b climate refugees predicted by 2050, Annas government need to get a firm grip on the issue and ensure people will be safe in their own countries."

Southend-on-Sea City Council say the Park Inn by Radisson Place is operating as a bridging hotel with a capacity for up to 118 people who arrive in the UK from Afghanistan as part of the resettlement scheme. They also said there are 135 Ukrainians who have arrived in Southend.

Cllr Ian Gilbert, cabinet member for economic recovery, regeneration and housing and councillor lead for tackling the cost-of-living crisis, previously said: "These are challenging times. The council has worked extremely hard alongside local community and faith groups to support refugees arriving here from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere. In many cases people are here owing to government decisions that the council has no say over. I am extremely proud of how we have responded to this challenge.

"Lack of affordable housing is a huge constraint in Southend, and we must be realistic about our capacity to help. Nevertheless, we will be positive about supporting people fleeing war and violence."

READ NEXT:

Continued here:
Southend residents protest against Government's Illegal Immigration bill that would send refugees to Rwanda - Essex Live

(The Center Square) The U.S. House Oversight Committee is demanding that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas provide information about the departments catch-and-release policy through which its released millions of foreign nationals into the country.

The policy has been struck down by a federal judge in a lawsuit brought by Florida, ruling its illegal.

Mayorkas has claimed that through the policy the vast majority of those applying for asylum claiming credible fear passed an initial screening by federal agents. Those who claim credible fear say theyd be in imminent danger if they were forced to return to their home countries.

In aninterviewwith CNN last month, Mayorkas said, The vast majority of those individuals have not sought to evade law enforcement, but have actually surrendered themselves to law enforcement and made a claim for relief under our laws And so they make their claims, and the initial threshold for those claims under the law is lower than the ultimate asylum standard.

However, in aletterto Mayorkas, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, told Mayorkas, DHSs own data contradict your statements. Only a fraction of the illegal aliens DHS personnel apprehend receive a credible fear screening prior to being released into the country.

According to federal data for last December, for example, more than 140,000 of the 172,116 Title 8 apprehensions resulted in individuals being released into the U.S. but only 5,001 were referred for credible fear screenings. A similar pattern is reported in other months.

Because of contradictory data posted on various DHS websites, however, it is impossible to know the extent of DHSs catch and release policies, Comer said. Instead of referring the majority who were released for credible fear screenings, Comer argues, Mayorkas policy in most circumstances is to simply release illegal aliens into the country.

The committee requested DHS provide all documents and communications on how many people were released into the U.S. This includes how many were processed under Title 8 who claimed they planned to apply for asylum and how many were referred to a credible fear screening. Among them, the committee asked for data on how many received a positive credible fear determination and how many were detained during their pending asylum applications, were paroled into the U.S., released with a notice to appear, released on recognizance, or released with instructions to report to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further processing (notice to report). The committee also asked how many received a negative credible fear determination.

It also asked for documents and communications about how many were processed under Title 8 who didnt claim asylum and how many of them were removed from the U.S., paroled into the U.S., released with a notice to appear, released on recognizance, or released with a notice to report.

The committee also asked for all documents and communications on how many were processed under Title 8 who were referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution for a violation of 8 U.S.C. 1326, which governs illegal entry and reentry into the U.S.

The request was madeaftermore than 1.6 million people were apprehended or reported evading capture by law enforcement after illegally entering the U.S. this fiscal year to date. Despite Mayorkas claiming the border is closed and secure and CBP reports its making progress on less apprehensions being reported, the committee says its investigating the Biden administrations creation of and failure to resolve the worst border crisis in American history.

U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell for the Northern District of Florida Pensacola Divisionruled the Biden administrations catch-and-release policy effectively turned the Southwest Border into a meaningless line in the sand and little more than a speedbump for aliens flooding into the country by prioritizing alternatives to detention over actual detention and by releasing more than a million aliens into the country on parole or pursuant to the exercise of prosecutorial discretion under a wholly inapplicable statute without even initiating removal proceedings.

He also said the administrations collective policies were akin to posting a flashing Come In, Were Open sign on the southern border.

See the article here:
House committee demands answers from Mayorkas on catch-and ... - Heartlander News