In conversation with the Acting Director of Immigration of Aruba, Andrew Hoo, another challenge that this department is facing has been confirmed. Individuals from India have started to use Aruba as a means to leave their country. They either intend to stay here or use Aruba, and other countries in the region, to try to reach the United States.
Information that has reached the editorial desk indicates that there are groups of individuals from India arriving in Aruba via London. They are attempting to either stay here or travel from Aruba to other nearby countries and ultimately enter the United States. The problem is that many times they do not comply with all Aruba’s requirements.
About a month ago, it was observed that a flow of Indian citizens was arriving in Aruba, but it was noted that the purpose of their visit does not match what they fill out on their ED-card. They trickle in during the week on TUI flights in small groups and do not comply with Aruba’s entry requirements. On Sundays, however, they arrive in large groups, for one-week visits only. According to Hoo, it was noticed that their final goal is not actually to visit Aruba. This is because they then continue their journey to Panama.
It’s a vicious circle. however, because Panama also does not accept them and returns them to Aruba.
“We have come to understand that it is a phenomenon experienced throughout the entire Caribbean region, where individuals of Hindu nationality are attempting to reach the United States. This is due to what is happening in their country. The same situation as in Latin America. When there is unrest in a country in that area, they try to leave their country, and that is the situation in India with elections underway and the flow of these individuals coming in this direction.”
Jamaica faced a similar situation, where a charter flight arrived with 200 people who now refuse to leave the country. “We want to avoid such a situation.”
Aruba has decided to stop these individuals from entering in order to avoid problems later on.
