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.
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When the UK Governor takes over Customs and Immigration his office will deal with the illegal immigrants. Elected BVI politicians must concentrate on eliminating all the corruption in the BVI government.
Governor take over what? You must be want the people to rebel in the streets!
So did he report the person?
Tortola have more illegals than locals.
@ all in all, I tired tell dem idiots, more than 50 percent of Tortolians moved to other countries, why is that?
If lazy and ineffective was a person it would be this guy. This country needs good leadership. I don’t see it in you Hon. Penn. Sorry.
this illegal aliens in the bvi is getting to be a serious issue. in the east end area of tortola have over 300 illegals. some had work permits in the past and have not renewed in many yrs because they change employment and no one take on the responsibility of sponsoring them.what I find strange is that immigration can pick up someone for over staying for say 10 yrs or just here illegally they would be deported to their home country and in three months they are back because they get sponsored. so there’s no penalty for being here illegally. the immigration department is very weak when t comes to enforcement but this weakness comes from the leader of the country because that office in incharge of immigration. almost all Caribbean countries are tackling the illegal migration but the bvi immigration laws are relaxed to boost economic growth. lol.what an island. an island that do not have any preferential privileges for its indigenous people.
To be honest, we’re not fulfilling our duties regarding immigration enforcement. Early mornings at One Mart and Bobby’s are filled with individuals who appear to be undocumented immigrants. It’s no surprise that we’re facing numerous issues when we’re preoccupied with internal conflicts, allowing these individuals to act without oversight. What’s more concerning is that some of these undocumented individuals are employed and even accessing banking services to cash cheques. This raises serious questions about the transparency and regulatory measures in place within the BVI. We need to take a hard look at these illegal activities that are escalating daily. Perhaps it’s time for the police to assist immigration authorities to restore order. Let’s set aside corruption and focus on rectifying these issues for the betterment of our community.”
We will be out number by the Asians soon. But all we are concentrated on is our black brothers and sisters from the other Caribbean islands.
I support this statement 100% start hunting them down. Everybody got BVI as a lax free for all place locals and foreigners alike. When you catch them don’t stop there track down and punish the boat man dem smuggling people in and out of here too they didn’t swim here.
If you start rounding up the illegals starting from West End up to East End the amount of illegals will out number the locals. They need a task force to round up all the Illegals and ship them out.
They also need to round up the landlords, people who is renting to them. There is a big ugly house up Porter ghut with a bunch of built on sections or rooms that is renting to illegals, heard some is renting a box for up to $900 or more a month. The house is one big patch up eye sore. Go check out the abandon houses on the Island and the abandon vehicles that is covered in bushes and you will find a whole lot of illegal squatters. Check out the abandon Prospect Reef Hotel. I swear I was walking on the road by Prospect Reef Hotel and it smell like someone was frying chicken or fish. How is it that a Hotel that is abandon have the scent of frying food?
Ayo same politicians call Immigration and have those illegals that have been arrested; to be released. Some ayo same politicians will have ayo party supporters that own bars, clubs and other businesses tell ayo let their people go! Those same family /friends that circumvent the Labour and Immigration laws will have ayo politicians contravene the laws for personal gains.
That same ‘Task Force’ will be made up of persons that don’t know the laws they are enforcing, can be bribed and the local politicians will engage to have their votes and donations secured! Hence why I am in agreement with these laws enforcement agencies being under the remit of the Governor’s Office! No partiality!! No favors!
I know someone who is a frig and they been fired from their permit job long time. But they still here. Who should I report it to?
Anus buckets and infidels who continuously post every day about UK take over are clearly insane, uninformed, uneducated, hateful, jealous and historically inept lunatics.
Look, the time when the British went around the world killing the inhabitants of and stealing their lands are over.
The world political systems are colonialist, and neocolonialist, but people and more precisely. Black people have universal rights which are stated in and protected by the universal bill of rights..
The Uk may have pseudo colonial ownership of these lands, but they cannot ignore the systems and people that live on those lands as if their lives since centuries ago are meaningless, unimportant and worthless.
Do otherwise, and there will be uncontrollable fire, rebellion and destruction.
We have earned the right to control our destiny just as the white people of the UK have, according to all the chapters of the Geneva Conventions and others to self determination, and to run our own affairs without outside interference by the UK, colonial slave masters children.
The stated take over of customs; immigration and finances are blatant interferences of the sovereignty of the Virgin Islands and should not be allowed to happen. I hope the warriors such as Mr. Walwyn and others from the old school are waching.
Some need to begin speaking up right now. After all, we are people in our land, not sheep in a pen to be disenfranchised of our life, dignity and future as they see fit to enrich themselves.
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.
““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.”
DOES THE MINISTER HAVE PROOF OF ALL THIS?