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1 1 (September 16, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govbbbi0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional *.Research Service Immigration Relief Options for Bahamians After Hurricane Dorian September 16, 2019 Hurricane Dorian made landfall as a Category 5 storm over the northern Bahamas on September 1, 2019, causing extensive damage to Abaco and Grand Bahama Islands, with a combined population of almost 70,000 people (the entire country has an estimated population of almost 390,000). The U.S. government, along with international humanitarian entities, is coordinating with the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in the relief effort. As of September 12, the United States had contributed almost $10.2 million in humanitarian assistance to the Bahamas in response to the hurricane. As a result of the impact of Hurricane Dorian, some Members of Congress have expressed interest in options for Bahamians to travel to or remain in the United States. The United States enjoys close economic linkages and cooperative relations with the Bahamas. Many Bahamians have relatives in the United States, and there is a sizeable Bahamian-bom population residing in Florida. According to CRS correspondence with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as of September 13, approximately 3,500 people had arrived in Florida from the impacted islands of the Bahamas; approximately 1,500 of these individuals were U.S. citizens and 2,000 were non-U.S. citizens who had valid documents in their possession. Requirements for Travel to the United States According to CBP, based on a 1974 bilateral agreement, certain Bahamian nationals may travel to the United States without a visa if they are pre-inspected by CBP in the Bahamas and are determined admissible. (Note that this visa exemption is different from the Visa Waiver Program, in which the Bahamas does not participate.) Requirements for Bahamians' visa-free travel to the United States include possession of a valid passport indicating Bahamian nationality and a police certificate indicating no criminal record. In addition, the purpose of travel must be business or pleasure for a short duration (typically no more than six months). On September 9, CBP issued a press release stating that Bahamians arriving to the United States by sea must have a visa and that all travelers must have government-issued identity documents. It further stated that CBP Port Directors may use discretion and will consider all exigent circumstances on a case by case basis in accordance with existing laws and regulations. At a press conference on the same day, Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan stated, We will accept anyone on humanitarian reasons that needs to Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN11166 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress

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