This archive report was first published on 9 September 2019.
On September 8, 2019, a ferry carrying dozens of Bahamas residents hoping to seek refuge in the United States from the storm-ravaged islands was turned back after an announcement on board that anyone without a valid visa would face difficulties at the American port of entry.
According to reports, the ferry was operated by Balearia, a company that conducts frequent sailings between Fort Lauderdale, Bimini, and Grand Bahama. The incident occurred after an apparent failure of communication between the company and United States authorities.
Renard Oliver, a passenger who held onto a toddler as he spoke to a reporter, expressed his frustration and hurt, saying, “At the last minute like this, it’s hurtful because I’m watching my daughters cry, but it is what it is.”
American authorities emphasized that they were continuing to allow Bahamas residents with acceptable documents into the United States. However, they stated that the trouble was that the ferry company had not obtained prior approval for passengers on board the ship who did not have visas, as is typically required.
Parts of the Bahamas were devastated as Hurricane Dorian lashed the country last week. Hundreds of residents are still missing, and the authorities have said that it could take months to tally the dead.
Senator Rick Scott of Florida urged officials from C.B.P. and the Bahamian government to clarify the rules on visas, to waive some visa requirements for those Bahamians who have family in the United States, and to set up a temporary site at American ports of entry to help speed Bahamas residents through immigration clearance.
