(CMR) The Cayman Islands Government will seek to curtail the current Cuban migrant crisis by introducing a Bill to amend the Customs and Border Control Act (2022 Revision) to adjust procedures in relation to asylum applications.
The amendment is expected to facilitate faster decision-making while continuing to observe the Islands’ obligations under the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees done at Geneva on the 28th of July, 1951, and the Protocol to the Convention.
With the amendment, a person whose application is successful will be granted leave to remain in the Islands for three years and will have the right to work for any employer in any occupation. A person who is granted leave to remain may apply to the Director, no sooner than two years from the date of the grant but no later than six months before the expiration of the leave, for indefinite leave to remain in the Islands on the basis that the person continues to be a refugee.
Where the Director is of the opinion that an application is so clearly without substance that it is bound to fail, in refusing the application, the Director may certify it as clearly unfounded.
The Director, in considering an application, shall have regard to the Refugee Convention and any directions given by the Cabinet relating to applications. An application may be refused where the applicant fails, in the opinion of the Director, to demonstrate that the applicant continues to be a refugee.
Many Caymanians have been questioning what actions the Government is taking to address the current situation of migrants in the Cayman Islands. There continues to be a large influx of Cuban migrants into Cayman, with several social issues arising recently. In addition, the Government has been forking out big bucks to take care of migrants on island.
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