Cabinet has approved the registration of all undocumented immigrants in Trinidad and Tobago, a process which is expected to commence from Friday, January 30th.
Speaking at the Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander mphasised that all undocumented immigrants in T&T must register, regardless of their country of origin. He warned that failure to do so would lead to immediate deportation.
The Minister added that a TT$700 fee would be applicable to all registering migrants, but migrant children would be exempt from the cost.
“After the registration, if anybody is caught and you were not registered, it gives us an opportunity for instant deportation. Again, the process should start by next week Friday and the in-person registration would start after the Carnival.”
Minister Alexander said the last migrant registration exercise in 2019 was not conducted properly, as many individuals registered using fictitious names, addresses, and locations.
He said the government intends to apply intelligence and accountability in the upcoming exercise, noting the aim is also a move to reduce crime and criminality.
“We know for a fact that a lot of persons came and was registered, some of them under fictitious names, address, and where they came from. This government intends to do things differently. It will incorporate a level of intelligence, accountability, and most of all, we will understand from every angle who we are dealing with because of the strategies we intend to put in place.”