The illegal immigrants were arrested after they were spotted on Beef Island.

Mr Penn said preparations are currently being made to repatriate the nine persons.

“I would like to say thank you to everyone who was involved in the apprehension and detention of these individuals. Our respective departments will continue to work together and remain vigilant while we protect the borders of the Virgin Islands.”

Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reached out to Mr Penn to ascertain whether consideration had been given to grant amnesty to the individuals considering the situation in Haiti; however, no response was received up to publication time.

On August 4, 2021, Haiti was ravaged by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that killed nearly 2,200 people as the country was still in shock from the ambush assassination of its President, Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021.

Police at the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) have nabbed a group of Haitian nationals who reportedly entered the territory illegally and were seen walking on Beef Island.

Boat with Haitians ran aground

Over in the VI, Mr Penn said the boat with the Haitians was spotted on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, circling the Beef Island area, before the boat ran aground.

He said a number of persons were then seen walking along the Beef Island road, which led concerned civilians to notify the Immigration Department.

According to the Chief Immigration Officer, the individuals were then apprehended, detained, identified and health screened through a collaboration with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and Her Majesty’s Customs, along with the BVI Health Services Authority.