Introduction
Immigration in the Bahamas holds exceptional powers — far beyond what most visitors and even residents expect. What appears on paper to be a matter of entry control has, in practice, become a tool of intimidation, unchecked enforcement, and discrimination — particularly affecting LGBTQ+ individuals, white expatriates, and Haitian migrants.
1. Broad Discretion & Arbitrary Enforcement
- The Bahamas Immigration Department frequently detains individuals and conducts property searches without warrants or judicial oversight, often citing ill-defined “national security” concerns.
- Detainees have reported being denied access to legal counsel, held for extended periods, and having money or valuables seized without documentation or inventory. immigration.gov.bs+1tribune242.com+1
2. Targeted Harassment of LGBTQ+ Individuals and Travelers
- Numerous accounts suggest that LGBTQ+ travelers and residents are viewed with suspicion.
- While case numbers are limited by fear of reporting, verbal harassment, profiling at checkpoints, and non-transparent questioning (including insinuations of “morality offences”) are frequently cited among human rights observers.
- One expatriate couple reports immigration officials focusing on sexual orientation rather than identity documents — raising serious concerns about bias and infringement on personal rights.
3. Discrimination Against White Expats and Foreign Investors
- A well-documented incident involved a Romanian model, traveling with her sister to celebrate a yacht-based marriage proposal. They were assumed to be sex workers and denied entry — despite valid documentation nycaribnews.com.
- This case is not unique: multiple white foreign business owners report immigration intimidation tied to landlord and permit disputes.
- Common tactics include:
- Withholding work or residence permits
- Delays in business licensing
- Threats of deportation for minor administrative issues
4. Haitian Migrants: Climate, Xenophobia & Deportation
- The Bahamas regularly detains irregular Haitian migrants, citing concerns following Hurricane Dorian. Many are held at Carmichael Road Detention Centre, enduring overcrowding, abuse, and lack of legal support justice.gov+3justice.gov+3nypost.com+3.
- Reports indicate a rise in xenophobic rhetoric post-storm, and collective deportations of Haitians — including children — without individual assessments .
- The immigration system mirrors a dual standard: one for tourists and seasonal workers, another for Haitians, who are treated en masse, often with minimal due process and no appeal rights.
5. Corruption & Culture of Silence
- The system enables informal power dynamics, where “knowing the right people” can mean the difference between delay and denial.
- Foreign business owners and expats report:
- “Paying unofficial fees” to avoid delays
- Fear of legal complaints due to the risk of deportation or property searches
- A pervasive motto emerges among residents: “Don’t complain — or you’ll be next.”
Conclusion
The unchecked power of Bahamian immigration — marked by arbitrary detentions, discrimination, and xenophobia — undermines legal safeguards, transparency, and fairness.
This is systemic intimidation, not occasional missteps. Until international scrutiny compels legal reform, the Bahamas will continue to rely.
