Immigration Director William Pratt petitioned Bahamians against "selling the country cheap" by entering into fraudulent marriages, which he said have become "a serious problem" for the Department of Immigration. Pratt was discussing the Immigration Amendment Bill (2015), which would also give immigration officers the power to file criminal charges against those who enter into marriages of convenience. The legislation, which was tabled in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, also makes it illegal for landlords to rent residences to those who have no legal status.

"So the onus will be on [landlords], to ensure that the persons who are renting their homes are legal in the country," Pratt said.

If the bill is passed, the harboring of illegal migrants would attract a fine of up to $10,000, up to five years in prison or both. As it relates to marriages of convenience, the penalty for those Bahamians or residents convicted would be the same, according to the bill. Foreign nationals would face deportation.

"So we hope that this would send a strong message to the public, particularly Bahamians, some of whom... are being paid to marry foreign nationals," Pratt said. "So we are really cracking down on this. And we are sending the message out strongly to any Bahamian citizen: do not sell your country cheap. Marriage for love is what it should be. We also want to send a message out to the justices of the peace and marriage officers."

Pratt said it is their responsibility to ensure that people are getting married for the right reasons.

"It should not be a marriage or convenience or for some gain of status," he said. "It should be for love."

Pratt said the Department of Immigration has come across several cases of fraudulent marriages but never had the authority to file charges.

"Now we're going to have teeth in the law so that we're going to be able to charge persons. People find this as a quick way to gain status in the country," he said.

Foreigners who marry Bahamians can apply for spousal permits, which allow them to live and work in the country. Spousal permits cost $250. Work permit fees can cost up to $12,000. As previously reported, the amendment bill also allows for the introduction of a resident belonger permit to cover foreigners who are constitutionally entitled to apply for Bahamian citizenship on their 18th birthday.

Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said yesterday that there has been some "push back" to the bill, but he said it is "largely overblown. People did not take time to study what the proposals are." He said the Department of Immigration will have to issue some clarifications on the matter to ensure that people fully understand what changes will result from the passage of the bill.

Mitchell noted that the resident belonger's permit would give residents a form of identification and status in the country. Most of the people who will benefit from the permit currently rely on a certificate of identity to give them an immigration status in this country, Mitchell said.

"But just like any other citizen, people should get the passport of their nationality," he added.

According to the bill, a resident belonger's permit could be granted to a person born in The Bahamas to non-Bahamian parents who is entitled to apply for registration as a citizen and is residing permanently in the country at the time the application is made. The permit would entitle an individual to live and work in the country.

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