Bahamian refugees without visas kicked off US-bound ferry
NASSAU, Bahamas – Confusion over required travel documents is severely hindering some efforts to help Bahamian refugees fleeing Hurricane Dorian’s horrors for the USA.
Thousands have been fleeing the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama since Dorian slammed into the island chain a week ago as a Category 5 monster that lingered for days. Entire communities were leveled, leaving thousands homeless and food and water scarce.
The official death toll stands at 44, but authorities have warned it will rise much higher.
At the Treasure Cay airstrip, many private plane owners refused to fly anyone without a valid U.S. passport over fear the pilots would be detained for questioning, slowing return flights. Hundreds of refugees were ordered off a Florida-bound ferry in Freeport on Sunday because they did not have visas.
Normally, most Bahamians would need a visa to come to the USA. Terrie Rizzo, chair of the Florida Democratic Party, urged federal officials Monday to waive visa requirements and grant temporary protection status to the refugees.
“Those who have lost their documents in the storm or cannot receive a response from an overwhelmed Bahamian government shouldn’t have to endure another tragedy of not being able to get to safety,” Rizzo said.
Sen. Rick Scott, R- Fla., urged the U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Monday to clarify the rules and asked President Donald Trump to ease visa requirements.
“As hundreds of thousands of Bahamians seek refuge or start to rebuild after Hurricane Dorian, we cannot have the kind of confusion that occurred last night in Freeport,” Scott said.
Viral video posted from the ferry Balearia in Freeport on Sunday included an announcement that “all passengers who don’t have a U.S. visa, please proceed to disembark” the ship, headed for Port Everglades.
The incident took place one day after the cruise ship Grand Celebration, with 1,500 refugees aboard, arrived at the Port of Palm Beach in an evacuation mission that had been coordinated with the U.S. and Bahamian governments. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said all of those evacuees possessed “valid travel documents” and advised private vessel and aircraft operators to coordinate any evacuation missions with Bahamian authorities.
WSVN-TV in Miami reported that hundreds of passengers left the Balearia when the announcement was made. They may not have needed to.
Stephen Silvestri, acting port director in Port Everglades, told the station that authorities in his port would have processed the evacuees without visas. He blamed a “business decision” by the ferry operators, suggesting they did not want the ship docked for hours while the refugees were processed one by one.
USAID Administrator Mark Green met with Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis on Sunday after briefly touring Abaco, pledging the U.S. government’s full support. The U.S. military assists with relief efforts being led by USAID, which brought in 89 people and four dogs to search the rubble.