South Caicos Feels the Pressure: Border Breaches, Illegal Work, and a Public Plea for Action

By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands — July 17, 2025 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force (TCIBF) continues to face complex challenges in its effort to protect the nation’s borders, with South Caicos emerging as one of the most pressured areas.

On July 9, the Director General of the Border Force, Mr. Emilio Seymour, hosted a community meeting at the Conch Grounds in South Caicos, inviting residents to share their concerns directly with leadership. The engagement formed part of the agency’s “Safer Borders, Safer Communities” outreach campaign, which also included door-to-door visits in North Caicos. According to the Border Force, these sessions were designed to improve transparency, strengthen community relations, and gather first-hand insight into the evolving border environment.

South Caicos has become a focal point in recent months.

On June 3, a migrant sloop carrying 50 individuals made landfall. Forty-nine (49) of them were apprehended; we learned about the incident thanks to reporting from Eagle Legal News Network. The incident reinforced concerns that the island is increasingly being used as an entry point for undocumented migrants, many of whom are believed to be seeking illegal employment.

Earlier, in October 2024, the Border Force led a targeted operation in South Caicos addressing illegal work activity.  The two-day effort resulted in seven arrests — four for illegally working in the territory and three others for matters including cannabis possession and overstaying. The operation was supported by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and underscored the inland approach now being taken to tackle immigration and customs-related offences.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, established by ordinance in 2024, replaced the former standalone Customs and Immigration Departments. It now functions as a single, unified national agency, responsible for both border-related immigration and customs enforcement. With an intelligence-led, risk-based operational model, the TCIBF has the flexibility to deploy staff across both customs and immigration roles, adapting quickly to threats as they emerge.

The Director General, Mr. Emilio Seymour, holds the authority previously vested in the Collector of Customs and Director of Immigration. He oversees five key operational units, supported by two Deputy Directors and seven Assistant Directors across the islands.

The Border Force says the feedback collected during engagements in both South and North Caicos is currently under review and will inform future policy and operational planning. Residents are being urged to report any suspicious immigration or customs-related activity through official channels, including the TCIintel@gov.tc tip email and the U.S. ICE hotline at 866-347-2423.

As South Caicos continues to develop, the stakes remain high: controlling its borders, protecting its people, and ensuring that economic growth does not come at the cost of security.