Penn wants task force for BVI’s large group of illegals

Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn has called for the creation of a dedicated task force to address what he described as a growing problem of illegal immigration in the Virgin Islands.

Speaking in the House of Assembly during the debate on the Immigration and Passport Amendment Bill 2025, Penn said the territory was facing a “real challenge” with the number of undocumented individuals currently residing in the islands.

“We have a large force of persons who are [here] illegally,” Penn stated. “It was a few months ago that someone who I thought would have been a resident or had a status… came to find out the person who was living here in the BVI with no type of status, and I don’t think that’s an isolated situation.”

Penn argued that the current immigration framework lacks the enforcement mechanisms to respond effectively. He said establishing a task force would allow for greater focus on identifying and dealing with unlawful persons in the territory.

Referencing earlier immigration practices, Penn noted, “I know before we used to have a situation where there was a task force within the immigration department that used to go periodically to make sure that persons are doing the things that they should do to make sure that their status is regularised, whether it’s through a work permit, exemption, or whatever the process is.”

He pointed to the need for renewed enforcement efforts, saying, “I think we need to get back to that place. It was not to the scale that I’m seeing right now where a person even with legitimate status is being targeted and harassed. But I think persons need to go through the legitimate process to reside within the territory.”

Penn supported aspects of the new immigration bill that clarified uncertainties and irregularities in status but stressed that legislative reform must be accompanied by action. “This legislation seems to clear up those uncertainties and irregularities. But primarily you need to put that task force back in place,” he stated.

The Virgin Islands has seen repeated incidents of illegal immigration over the years, including a high-profile case in March 2024 where 21 undocumented migrants were intercepted in Virgin Gorda. Previous efforts to combat illegal migration included the formation of a Joint Task Force in 2020, which helped monitor the borders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Immigration and Passport Amendment Bill 2025 seeks to clarify residency definitions and revise procedures for attaining status, but Penn insisted that structural enforcement must also be a priority.

Penn’s call comes amid continued pressure on government resources. According to previous government reports, the territory spent over $4.6 million between 2021 and 2024 on detention and repatriation of illegal migrants.