Strengthening The Immigration Laws

Recently someone not belonging to Anguilla, walked down the road with an offensive weapon threatening to harm another youngster (who may also have been at fault) and was taken into custody following a report to the police. If this action was not executed in quick time, one can only surmise that Anguilla may have had another crime to deal with. The reporting of this matter underscores how important it is for members of the public to convey information to the police, about anything they see or know, to enable them to prevent or solve a crime.

There is growing evidence to suggest that we must be careful who is allowed into Anguilla. We recognise that in earlier years our people have travelled far and near in quest of employment and that we should try to keep our doors open as much as possible to others seeking a means of livelihood here. The fact is, however, that Anguillians who were forced to live abroad for economic reasons were careful to behave themselves and to respect the territories and the peoples where they sojourned. We now expect and demand that those coming here among us should do likewise.


Our immigration policy is rather gentle in its creation and application – so kind that the loopholes are easy to be discerned and taken advantage of. Imagine, for example, that someone up for deportation can rush off, marry an Anguillian and can remain on the island and there is nothing the law can do about it. Contrast this, and more, with the immigration policies in America, which claims to be the greatest democracy on earth. The fact that someone achieves permanent residence or perhaps US citizenship does not prevent that person’s documents from being torn up and he or she deported forthwith for any misdemeanor. There are examples right here in Anguilla.

What can the Government do to tighten its immigration policy to keep misfits out of Anguilla? It seems that a measure can be introduced and passed in the House of Assembly which, while granting persons residential or other status, comes with certain conditions attached. There should be provisions for revocation if those persons were deemed to be undesirables later on. Every country has a right to protect itself and its people from those whose behaviour would mess up the society. There are some good, productive and law-abiding sojourners in our midst and these we must embrace but there is no room for those who endanger the peace, quiet and security of Anguilla.