Amnesty Announced by Immigration for Illegal Aliens

Chief Immigration Officer
Franz Manderson

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Illegal aliens have been given a window of opportunity to avoid prosecution by the Department of Immigration. Anybody residing and working illegally in the Cayman Islands will be allowed to leave the territory between 18 October and 1 November without fear of prosecution.

Mr Franz Manderson, Chief Immigration Officer said: “We normally offer an amnesty every five years or so, as we are aware that there are certain individuals who are here illegally. Ivan has provided a timely opportunity for us to ask those people to leave now, in order to reduce the burden of provision. We want to give people notice and time to make preparations to leave so the amnesty will officially begin on the 18 October.”

This amnesty applies to people who do not possess work permits or any other valid authorisation to remain in the Islands and Mr Manderson added that if people were working illegally regardless of their role they will not be given permission to apply to work here legally and should simply take advantage of the opportunity to go without being prosecuted.

After this amnesty period has expired, the Department of Immigration will actively seek out people who are here illegally and they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The penalty for overstaying is a fine of CI$20,000 and imprisonment of up to five years. For anybody (including employers) who knowingly assist a person to remain illegally in the Cayman Islands, the penalty is a fine of CI$50,000 and imprisonment for seven years.

Anyone who wants to take advantage of this amnesty must depart the by 1 November 2004 at the latest. Mr Manderson also stated that people taking advantage maybe permitted to return to the Cayman Islands in the future if they applied through the proper channels and came legally.

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