The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) will hold a hearing today over the government's immigration policy following allegations of human rights violations.

Minister of State for Legal Affairs Damian Gomez will represent the government at the hearing in Washington, D.C., according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell.

The hearing follows the IACHR's request for the government to implement eight precautionary measures to "ensure the life and physical integrity" of migrants at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre. In response, the government said many of the concerns expressed by the human rights organization were "overstated and inaccurate".

The recommendations were outlined in a report released on February 19.

The measures included providing adequate medical treatment to detainees, addressing the situation of unaccompanied children in accordance with international standards and ensuring legal assistance is available.

The commission also requested the government take immediate action to substantially reduce overcrowding at the center and ensure civil society organizations, and relevant international organizations have access to the facility for the "purpose of monitoring detention conditions".

The IACHR made the request based on the "factual and legal arguments" presented by several non-governmental organizations, which visited the detention center on November 12, 2014.

When asked whether the government implemented any of the precautionary measures, Mitchell said, "The government responded to its own report."

He was referring to the recommendations made by an appointed panel, which led a formal investigation into the conditions at the detention center.

The panel was headed by a former justice of The Bahamas Court of Appeal.

However, the government previously advised in a statement that it was reviewing the IACHR's report and a considered response would be provided.

The government said it was unfortunate the report appears to have adopted the narrative of the various human rights groups and press-based advocates that are not based in fact.

The government's immigration policy, which came into effect on November 1, 2014, focuses on reducing the number of illegal immigrants living in The Bahamas.

Yesterday, Amnesty International called on the government to respond to its request on March 17 for detailed information regarding the government's immigration policy.

It claimed the government has not made public the "precise content of these reforms". Amnesty International also expressed concern that the government implemented the policy too quickly without conducting an education campaign.

"Transparency should be paramount in order to prevent human rights to be affected," read the statement.

"In a spirit of collaboration with Bahamian authorities, Amnesty International therefore requests to receive clarifications to a number of questions on the migration reforms, specifically in view of understanding how the government of The Bahamas is planning to implement the new measures in a manner compatible with its international obligations."

But Mitchell said the government's policies are "plain and simple and require no further elucidation".

He said an officer of the ministry has been assigned to respond to the concerns of Amnesty International.

The IACHR hearing is public and will stream live on the IACHR's website.

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