Law enforcement raid nets immigration offenders
(CNS): Two Jamaicans and one Caymanian were arrested during a joint RCIPS and immigration operation on Monday night which involved some twenty law enforcement officers who were carrying out checks in the Eastern Avenue area of George Town. The two Jamaican nationals were arrested on suspicion of having landed illegally and the Caymanian for obstruction of the officers all three remain in custody pending further investigations. Meanwhile, another man who is a permanent resident with the right to work was arrested for not having an employment rights certificate.
Deputy Chief Immigration Officer for Enforcement Gary Wong explained the situation. “The charge facing this professional-level worker is working without being authorised by an Employment Rights Certificate. The offence occurred after the permanent resident failed to pay the required fees which would allow him to work in the Cayman Islands. The outstanding amount is some $25,000,” he said.
The two separate events provide illustrations the Immigration Department stated of its intention to clamp down and remain vigilant in both detecting illegal residents and ensuring that local employees and businesses adhere to relevant laws.
Applauding these recent efforts and thanking the RCIPS and other uniformed agencies for their continued support, Chief Immigration Officer Linda Evans said offenders will continue to be targeted.
“This continued enforcement drive is in the national interest. It targets all levels of law infringement and is about protecting border security as well as detecting abuses in the labour market,” she added.
Evans also thanked the public for cooperating and reminded permanent residents to ensure that any required payments are up-to-date or they would face being arrested and fined.
The department is able to impose administrative fines, which do not require the subjects to appear in court or necessarily face imprisonment.
During the immigration amnesty in July 87 people representing diverse nationalities took advantage of the opportunity to depart Cayman without repercussion. An enforcement crackdown was subsequently implemented.
Cases detected since then include overstaying, altering documents, working without a permit, obstructing law enforcers and making false statements. Overstayers or others committing any immigration offences should voluntarily contact the Immigration Enforcement Section, or they will be arrested when attempting to depart.
Category: Local News
"Deputy Chief Immigration Officer for Enforcement Gary Wong explained the situation. “The charge facing this professional-level worker is working without being authorised by an Employment Rights Certificate. The offence occurred after the permanent resident failed to pay the required fees which would allow him to work in the Cayman Islands. The outstanding amount is some $25,000,” he said"
Here we go again with grand-standing. No doubt this fellow broke the law and needs to be dealt with. Why is it for a man that is a prodessional-level worker, was all of these Law Enforcement Officers needed to arrest him? He was not a huge threat to the Officer’s well-being so why were there so many of them, along with the RCIP. I mean really is it needed to drive around with a bus load of cops that cannot read or write properly to arrest this guy.
There are people once again commiting real crimes here that threaten our way of life. There are those amongst us that the CI Governement Authorities know they are criminals, but yet allow the to live with us, but yet a small army is sent for this guy. It shows that it was the amount of money he cheated the Gov. on, not the fact that he committed a crime. There are loads of yes I will say the J word,l that are not suppose to be here, but are still here and noone does anything about it. They needed to be rounded up like a herd of cows and sent home if they have no LEGALreason to be here.
I wonder if Evans is also reporting to the board members who these offenders are?
Immigration needs to be making more checks at some of these local bars. It’s amazing to hear what is taking place when it comes to who landed here to "work" and how they are continuing to stay here illegally.
Don’t worry – many of our politicians know these bars very very well.
So just WHO are the Caymanians they are working for? Let’s see the traffickers brought to justice. The law is the same for everyone, not just the little man.
I could name a few but, here is not the right place to do so. However, I have provided the Immigration Department with reliable information on what is happening at some of these bars, only to see the same Immigration officer(s) I spoke to show up at one of the bars in question to have a jolly good time with the offenders after work. See now why it doesn’t make sense to even bother sometimes?
We going to chase those crazy baldheads out town nuff a dem a circus clowns. Well Mckeeva they cutting down on the population again. Conflicting and contradicting you and your policies. Lets Big up the Immigration guys send then home. Job well done, congrats
Excellent – keep on going!
Great! This is another way to reduce unemployment and/or increase revenue. They were probably holding jobs that Caymanians could fill.