Immigration overhaul to end automatic deportation for minor offences

The Mia Mottley administration is moving to end the era of automatic deportations for minor infractions, including overstaying a visit, amid sweeping immigration reforms aimed at correcting past wrongs and modernising the country’s migration policies, Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams said on Friday.

As the Joint Select Committee on Governance and Policy Matters held a hearing on the Immigration Bill and the Barbados Citizenship Bill, Abrahams outlined the government’s revised stance.

“Deportation is a last resort. Deportation is not entered into lightly …. That is not conducive to what we’re trying to achieve now going forward….” Abrahams said, explaining that previously, individuals were often deported for even minor offences, including simple convictions or overstaying by a day.

He noted that the process now involves multiple levels of review, with decisions only reaching the minister after thorough assessment by supervisors and the chief immigration officer.

Reflecting on past policies, Abrahams recalled the mass deportations of 2008 under the David Thompson administration, when individuals were removed for minor reasons such as expired work permits. He explained that those with a clean record for many years could now have their deportation orders revoked, whereas repeat offenders or those convicted of serious crimes would continue to face strict review and enforcement.

Some deportees with criminal convictions were quickly turning around after being deported and submitting requests to return, Abrahams said. He described these requests as “nuisance applications”, noting that it was a major issue that created unnecessary administrative and financial burdens.

Under the new legislation, people will be required to cover certain costs and show accountability, including a $3 000 non-refundable fee for applications to revoke deportation orders.

He explained: “We had people literally being deported, landed in the country and in months they turned around, and so the nuisance applications got to a point where [there] had to be some consequence for it. The other thing is there’s generally a cost attached to deportations.So equally, if you have been legitimately deported from a country and you wish to come back, there must be some measure of restitution being made to allow your application to be considered.”

The minister also emphasised that deportations are no longer automatically triggered by overstaying. Individuals with clean records are encouraged to regularise their status, especially if they are employed or have established connections in Barbados. He noted that the bulk of overstayers are regional residents contributing to the economy, some of whom even own property locally.

Abrahams outlined that all applicants seeking immigration status or reversal of deportation orders undergo rigorous checks. He said there are double and triple verification processes to ensure that applicants do not pose risks to the country’s security or to the standing of its passport. Minor issues may be clarified with the applicant, but serious concerns will result in refusal.

The proposed approach to deportation forms part of a wider immigration reform which, Abrahams said, is aimed at modernising laws that are currently outdated, in support of Barbados’ developmental, economic and social needs.

As part of the reforms, the government is also considering a points-based system to determine eligibility for residency, reviewing the “work and reside” category, and regularising situations for individuals who have contributed meaningfully to Barbados.

Highlighting demographic challenges, Abrahams said that with an ageing population, migration is increasingly necessary to sustain the workforce and maintain population viability. He noted that the government is striving to balance the protection of Barbadian interests with the need for skilled workers to support economic growth, stressing that the reform is not about “opening the floodgates” but about creating a framework for managed migration that maintains social cohesion.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb