PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — The Trinidad and Tobago Government says it will begin registering all undocumented migrants in the country from next week and warned those who fail to register could face immediate deportation.

Homeland Security Minister, Roger Alexander, speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet news conference on Thursday night, said that under the new Migration Registration Framework, all undocumented migrants, regardless of nationality, will have to be registered at a fee of TT$700 (One TT dollar=US$0.16  cents). Children will be exempted.

The process will begin with online registration at migrantregistration.gov.tt. The applicants will then be scheduled for an in-person interview, after which they will receive a Migration Registration Framework card.

“The Cabinet…approved the registration of all legible illegal immigrants in Trinidad and Tobago through the Immigration Registration Framework. This was done sometime in 2019 by the previous administration; however, it was only the Venezuelan nationals [who] were required to register. We are presently asking all. This framework includes all illegal immigrants to be registered.”

Alexander said migrants will need to present a form of identification, an address and — if employed — include their place of work.

“This Government intends to do things differently,” he said, adding that the process will be partially digital with registration online.

“After that, you will be called to an in-person registration interview and eventually you will receive your Migrant Registration Framework card,” he said, adding, “We are using all government facilities to accommodate this project.”

When asked by reporters whether migrants facing criminal offences would be allowed to register, Alexander said legal troubles may hinder registration.

“If you have a criminal record, there will be an issue — that is for sure. We want persons to come to Trinidad, if you come here with purpose, come with purpose and help us build, and you build yourself. We are not looking for persons to add to the nation’s problems,” he said, adding that migrants who entered the country illegally should still come forward to register.

“We don’t want persons to run away. We want persons to come forward and register.”