MONTEGO BAY, St James — Two Haitians who entered Jamaica illegally then moved in with relatives were fined and ordered deported during their recent court appearance.

Andelson Silien and Ralph Sincyr faced the St James Parish Court Wednesday, answering charges of illegal entry. The men pleaded guilty, with a translator assisting throughout the proceedings before Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton.

Court documents detail that Sincyr arrived in Jamaica by boat on April 4, 2025, accompanied by three Jamaicans he did not know. Landing on the St Elizabeth coast, he stayed with locals for eight days before spending US$400 on a taxi ride to Montpelier, St James. He lived there with his cousin, Jonathan, also a Haitian, until his arrest on March 6, 2026.

Sincyr admitted he made no effort to contact immigration or local authorities upon arrival. While he presented his Haitian ID, the Border Management System showed no official record of his entry.

Similarly, Silien entered Jamaica on December 29, 2023, by boat with three Jamaicans. He initially landed along the Kingston coast, earned $15,000 from fishing, and remained there for three days.

Silien paid a taxi to Montego Bay, stayed at the bus park for three days, then walked to Montpelier, St James, where he lived with his cousin Marco, another Haitian. He worked as a farmer for six months before relocating to Cambridge, St James, where he continued farming until his arrest on March 6, 2026.

Silien also admitted failing to contact authorities, and checks revealed no official record of his entry.

In her ruling, judge Fairclough-Hylton fined each man $7,000 or 10 days’ imprisonment and issued deportation orders against them.