A total of 56 Haitian migrants, including seven children, were detained by the Royal Bahamas Defense Force on the island of Inagua, in the southwest of the Atlantic archipelago and about 90 kilometers from Cuba.
The authorities of the Bahamas reported this Thursday that the migrants were detained when they were sighted by a boat of the Royal Defense Force of the Atlantic territory during a routine patrol.
Within the group there were seven children and eight women, all in good health.
The group was transported from the island of Inagua to that of New Providence, which houses the capital, Nassau, where the migrants were handed over to the police authorities.
The Royal Bahamas Defense Force indicated that it remains vigilant in defending the territorial integrity of the Atlantic archipelago to enforce strategic plans for control of the territory.
The influx of Haitians increased again after nearly two years of low number of arrests due to the covid-19 pandemic.
The Nassau authorities announced in 2019 their commitment to deport any citizen from Haiti who does not have the corresponding authorization, after years of relaxation regarding the arrival of people from that country.
Haitians have in recent years become a part of Bahamian life by becoming part of its workforce, especially in low-skilled jobs.
The latest data available from the Bahamas census indicates that among a total population of about 350,000 people, 39,000 are of Haitian origin.