Children born to Haitian parents are afraid to go to school for fear they would be arrested by immigration officials despite a policy that prohibits authorities from picking up illegal immigrants at schools or churches, according to Haitian community leader Joel Pierre.
Pierre, a 45-year-old resident of the Joe Farrington Road shantytown, claimed only about five percent of the school children who live in that shantytown went to school yesterday.
Scores of children were walking about the shantytown yesterday.
"Parents have called me and said, 'Joel, can I send my children to school?'," said Pierre, who is considered a leader in the shantytown.
"They are scared to send their children to school. Even the children [are] scared. It was not like this before. They used to walk [to school] with no problem because they know it's their hometown.
"That's where they're born, but now they are scared to go anywhere. You tell them to get dressed to go to school. They say I'm not going [because] the police are going to catch me, or immigration is going take me. It's going to affect them in their education.
"We are in a season where exam [will] almost start."
Pierre claimed some children have not gone to school since Friday.
He estimated that about 35 to 40 primary and high school students have remained home.
Director of Immigration William Pratt said officers do not go into schools.
"We would never pick up children from school," he said. "That's not our policy.
"In fact, the parents have to send them to school. Thats the law. By failing to send them to school they could be charged."
Pierre said the fear of sending the children to school stems from a new policy which makes it more difficult for foreigners to live and work in the country.
The policy, which took effect on Saturday, requires all non-Bahamians to have passports of their nationality and evidence that they have permission to live and work in the country.
The Department of Immigration also will not accept first-time applications for residence or work permits from those who have no legal status in The Bahamas.
Authorities detained 77 migrants, including children, on Saturday.

Bad blood
Pierre suggested that the handling of the matter may cause some bad blood between Haitians and Bahamians. However, he said he has advised his friends to stay calm.
"I tell my Haitian people don't lose hope," said Pierre as residents of the shantytown looked on. "There will be a day when the sun will shine on them.
"I tell them not to get mad at the people or the Bahamian children...The government is doing what they are supposed to do. Let them do what they have to do."
But even as he called for calm, one of the residents of the shantytown raised a machete at NB12's cameraman.
Pierre also suggested that the round-ups were inhumane and will impact the country's reputation.
"It's around the world now," he said, referring to the detainment of children.
"The whole world knows what's going on in The Bahamas. It's going to affect our country. I'm a Bahamian citizen and I am proud to say I am a Bahamian...I carry a Bahamian passport, but my mom and daddy are Haitian.
"I am a Haitian, and my children are Haitian. I am Haitian by blood but by the law I am a Bahamian."
Pierre, who was born in The Bahamas, said the new policy has caused "chaos" and added that Haitians were not given enough time to get their documents.
He said several residents who have yet to gain status in the country have already bought plane tickets to return to Haiti.
Pierre said others who cannot afford tickets have packed their belongings and are prepared in case immigration officials arrest them.
He said even though the government is sending hundreds of Haitians home, others will always try to come to The Bahamas seeking a better life.
"If you look on the [Internet] you will see that The Bahamas is the richest country in the Caribbean. People are coming for a better life," Pierre said. "I can not blame them."
As he spoke to The Guardian, a tractor arrived to clean up the debris from homes that were torn down. The clean-up is a part of the government's crackdown on shantytowns.
Pierre said he knows his home will also be torn down soon as it has already been marked for demolition.
He said he does not know where he will move to next.

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