The Government will open an Immigration Detention Centre from November 15 to house illegal immigrants, now numbering 96 in T&T, National Security Minister Martin Joseph said yesterday. Joseph said the Cabinet-approved project was in response to the number of illegal immigrants in T&T, resulting in their incarceration, pending return to their countries, or deportation. The current number of illegal detainees from various countries include 26 women, including 20 from Colombia. The highest number of male detainees were seven men from Senegal, Joseph added. Prohibited immigrants were now detained at the Maximum Security Prison. However Joseph said this was not in keeping with best international practices. The centre, located at Aripo, can house 180 detainees.

It has been refurbished and will be managed by the Immigration Division and staffed by Immigration and Detention officials, plus civilians in the long run. In the interim, detention officers would be precepted SRP officers, Joseph added. The centre would meet international standards for humane detention where respect for human dignity was concerned. Joseph said. The Ministry is in talks with the International Organisation for Immigration to establish protocols for the voluntary repatriation of illegals detained presently. This would have an impact on the number of prohibited immigrants in custody, Joseph added.