asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of (a) the number of illegal Haitian migrants landing on the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), and (b) the repatriation costs to the TCI Government's budget of illegal migrants, for each of the past five years for which figures are available. [HL2639]
The responsibility for immigration in the Turks and Caicos Islands is delegated to the local government. Its Immigration Department has provided the following information for illegal migrants who have been repatriated, but no details are available for illegal migrants who have entered the territory undetected.
Month/Year 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 January 44 64 97 117 - February 121 269 242 60 176 March 303 93 140 31 53 April 241 161 290 70 - May 60 120 178 42 105 June 344 274 158 80 - July 311 265 225 350 - August 54 287 156 18 191 September 318 32 191 214 176 October 207 335 222 128 - November 146 149 91 310 155 December 14 184 153 608 - Total 2163 2233 2143 2,028 856 Source: Turks and Caicos Islands Immigration Department
The Turks and Caicos Islands Immigration Department has provided the following figures, which cover food, security, running the illegal migrant detention centre and the repatriation of illegal migrants to Haiti.
Year Amount spent US $ 2003 $349,105.85 2004 $651,734.00 2005 $229,180.00 2006 $1,139,916.00 2007 $1,000,000.00 approx Total $3 369,935.00 Source: Turks and Caicos Islands Immigration Department
asked Her Majesty’s Government:
What representations they have made to the Government of Haiti regarding illegal migration of its citizens to the Turks and Caicos Islands.[HL2640]
We support an ongoing programme of co-operation at both official and ministerial level between the Turks and Caicos Islands Government and the Government of Haiti. We understand that this will soon be formalised by a Memorandum of Understanding due to be signed between the two Governments in May. This will focus on the need to improve the interdiction of illegal migrants and other areas of mutual interest, including promoting trade, closer political co-operation and the sharing of intelligence on drugs and firearms from Haiti. Our ambassador in Santo Domingo also raised this issue during a meeting with the Haitian Foreign Minister in January 2008.