Nominee for U.S. ambassador addressing migration issue

Thu, Mar 26th 2015, 12:54 AM

President Barack Obama's nominee for United States (U.S.) Ambassador to The Bahamas, Cassandra Q. Butts, said yesterday that one of her priorities would be to ensure Bahamian officials are following international best practices in how they are dealing with illegal immigrants.

"There have been concerns raised by the Bahamian Haitian community and by human rights advocates that the implementation of the policy has unfairly targeted Haitian communities and that the detainees who are being detained as a result of the policy in the detention facility are not being treated to international standards," said Butts during a hearing of the U.S. Foreign Relations Committee.

"I will certainly urge, while I am there, if I am confirmed, that the Bahamians follow international standards in how they are implementing their immigration policy and also how they are maintaining their detention facility."

Butts was responding to Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey who asked her to give an overview of The Bahamas' immigration policy during the hearing.

"Can you talk about the immigration policy in The Bahamas and the questions being raised about the barriers that are being erected to being able to gain citizenship and not living in a stateless status?" he asked.

The Bahamas government implemented a new immigration police last November.

Among other things, it requires all non-nationals to have a passport of their nationality and evidence that they have permission to live and work in the country.

Additionally, a new Immigration Bill was passed last week in the House of Assembly.

It establishes a belonger's permit and new immigration measures for students, among other things.

Butts said migration is an issue she cares deeply for.

"I worked for a number of years on issues related to migration," she said.

"These are things that I care about and I understand and I look forward to having the opportunity, if confirmed, to engage on the issue.

"I am very confident that the Bahamians have robust democratic institutions and they will be able to address these concerns with the help of the U.S.government and also the international community."

This is the second hearing Butts has attended. Obama nominated her to the post in 2014. The Bahamas has been without a U.S. ambassador for four years.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

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