TCIG pumps out nearly $5 Million on REPATRIATION of Illegal Migrants

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, August 11, 2023 – Between April and August 4th, just over four months, repatriation would have cost the Turks and Caicos over $4.5 million dollars.  That is according to Royal TCI Police data which puts the total irregular migrants caught for the financial year 2023/24 which began on April 1st at around 2,075.

As the number of interceptions continues to increase, the Turks and Caicos has taken the decision not to accept irregular migrants but to return them to their home country.  In keeping with this decision, it must expend millions to protect its population via repatriation.

With the current number of irregular migrants now at 3,030 in the first eight months this year alone, the Turks and Caicos is bearing one of its heaviest financial burdens from the issue to date.

Since the beginning of the calendar year 2023, the Government would have already spent around $6.6 million based on the $2,200 per person cost revealed in February.

The vast increase is a realization of fears expressed by Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration, that the amount of migrants and cost would increase dramatically in 2023.

“If we continue on this trend, we are looking at an estimated 4,494 persons to be repatriated from an estimated 36 boats.  This is unprecedented and it has serious social impact, financial pressure and implications for our livelihoods and our country,” Musgrove had said.

The increase has been fueled by the worsening humanitarian crises in neighbouring Haiti which lies only a few hundred miles from the TCI.