Border Force Changes at Cabinet

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, December 5, 2023 – With the advent of the Turks and Caicos Border Force, significant changes have been made to the governing structure of the Customs and Immigration Departments due to alterations in the legislation governing these bodies.

Following the coalescence of Customs and Immigration, the Director General of the Border Force now has full control of the powers previously held by the Collector of Customs and the Director of Immigration.

Additionally now the Force has sole responsibility for the administration of both the Customs and Immigration Department Ordinance which also means that immigration officers may act in the capacity of customs officers.

There is also a new chain of command.  The Director General reports directly to the Minister responsible for the Turks & Caicos Islands Border Force while the Director of Inland & Director of Ports will report directly to the Director General.

According to the Government, the combined force is part of an overall system overhaul that will utilize more electronics to weed out not just illegal substances but pin down those arriving in the country who may pose a threat to the Turks and Caicos.

According to TCIG, the revamp of these entities within the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services will create more comprehensive protection at the country’s points of entry following repeated instances of illegal migration and drug smuggling.