REPORT: Hundreds of Bahamians told to get off evacuation ship

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Hundreds of Bahamians attempting to flee the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian were reportedly told to leave a ship if they did not have a visa to enter the United States.

Video posted on Twitter by WSVN reporter Brian Entin on Sunday shows a loudspeaker aboard the Balearia ferry, which was transporting evacuees from Freeport to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., when an announcement was made that visas are required for all attempting to enter the U.S.

The article goes on to state the following:

CNN reports that hundreds of Bahamian evacuees were previously allowed into the United States without visas and Customs and Border Patrol’s (CBP) website states visas are not required for Bahamian residentsflying into the U.S. from the Bahamas if they also meet other criteria.

That criteria includes possessing a valid passport or travel documents, having no criminal record and carrying a police certificate issued within the past six months.  Entin reported that the evacuees were told upon boarding the ship that that criteria would be enough to enter the states.

Big problems on the ferry from Freeport to Florida — announcement just made that any Bahamian without a visa must now get off. This is not normal. Nornally Bahamians can travel to USA with passport and a printout of their police record. This is a mess. pic.twitter.com/DESUm2qBGE

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) September 8, 2019

Hundreds like Renard Oliver and his baby now have to get off the ferry from Freeport, Bahamas to Florida. He was trying to evacuate — told he could leave with Bahamian passport and police record like normal but then ferry crew says US Goverment called and changed plan last minute pic.twitter.com/vhBkSgBlKF

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) September 8, 2019

Another announcement just made ordering any Bahamian without a US visa to disembark ferry — not allowed to evacuate. They were told before boarding it was ok with Bahamian passport and clean polce record. Something has now changed. pic.twitter.com/m7CnZxoiMM

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) September 9, 2019

Ferry staff now going around checking passports. There are hundreds of Bahamians on here. People are in shock. Hundreds of people trying to evacuate just forced off the boat. I’m not videoing because I just got yelled at by crew.

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) September 9, 2019

So they all lined up and waited for hours to board this ferry. (See my tweets from earlier) when we were about to leave, something changed.

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) September 9, 2019

That’s it. We’re leaving — all Bahamian evacuees without a visa taken off. The Bahamians who remain are in shock. No one understands why the rule was changed at the last minute. The parents and kids now stuck on the island. pic.twitter.com/Jvd3D6MTZW

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) September 9, 2019

Just now getting service – still at sea with a connection in Bimini before arriving in Fort Lauderdale. Just reached out to @CBP and @marcorubio office. Waiting on a response to find out what happened.

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) September 9, 2019

A little more from crew on the ferry. They say they were told it was ok to accept Bahamian evacuees with passport and copy of police record. They boarded boat. Then when they sent manifest to US Customs and Border Patrol — they were told those without visas would not be accepted.

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) September 9, 2019

What is interesting is cruise ship Grand Celebration evacuted more than 1000 Bahamians Friday and they did not require visas — was ok to just have passport and police record. What changed since then?

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) September 9, 2019

“CBP was notified of a vessel preparing to embark an unknown number of passengers in Freeport and requested that the operator of the vessel coordinate with U.S. and Bahamian government officials.”
This ferry I’m on is operated by Balearia — a major company with a regular schedule https://t.co/8zQoU5DoEP

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) September 9, 2019

Just interviewed @CBPFlorida when we got off ferry in FL. They say they would have accepted and processed the Bahamians, and blame the ferry company Balearia. CBP says they tried to coordinate with Balearia but company “made a business decision” to take the evacuees off the boat. pic.twitter.com/ONkgdcJvS3

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) September 9, 2019

This is the height of cruelty—denying help to those who need it most. This administration has said the words on the Statue of Liberty should be rewritten, and in their actions, they are already changing who we are as a country.

It’s on us to prove we’re better than this. https://t.co/TXIlnDai41

— Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) September 9, 2019

This must be immediately fixed. https://t.co/PFRe4UW9vU

— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) September 9, 2019

Hundreds of Bahamians attempting to flee devastation caused by Dorian told to leave evacuation ship: report https://t.co/MSQ5qlRzyR pic.twitter.com/LbVNn5TZwf

— The Hill (@thehill) September 9, 2019

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