Double the Illegal Migrants costs TCI $6.3 Million; 855 busts at the Ports says Been

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, May 10, 2023 – There was a 104 percent increase in the number of illegal migrants repatriated from the Turks and Caicos in the last financial year. The TCI Department of Immigration says it detained 2,882 migrants from 31 landings, more than double the total of the previous (2021/22) year which numbered 1,409 illegal migrants from 23 boats.

The statistics were revealed by Althea Been, Permanent Secretary in The Ministry of Immigration and Border Services, and her team as they appeared before the Appropriations Committee on May 2nd.

The resulting dent in tax-payers pockets is an estimated $6.3 million dollars based on previous figures shared by the department. Been had said the department was operating at a cost of $2,200 per migrant. It cost the Turks and Caicos an estimated $2.7 million more in 2022/23 than the $3.6 million spent in the previous year.

In addition, to the successful interceptions there were 855 discoveries of prohibited goods at the country’s ports with resulting penalties costing offenders $540,000, Been said. With these achievements she described it a successful year.

The $186 million was the revenue recorded for the financial year with only a $14 million expenditure budget.

The members of the Appropriations Committee to whom Been appeared are: Kyle Knowles, MP of Wheeland; Willin Belliard, Governor’s Appointed Member of the House of Assembly; Samuel Been, MP of Cheshire Hall & Richmond Hills; Edwin Astwood, Leader of the Opposition and other Co-opted members.