Panic as migrant still at large after escaping immigration detention centre | World | News

One escaped migrant remains at large after two escaped from an immigration detention centre in the Cayman Islands.

A pair of male Cuban migrants broke out of the Fairbanks Immigration Detention Centre on Saturday, February 7. One of the escapees has since been returned, but the other is still unaccounted for. It is unclear how they escaped.

Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control media liaison officer, Cameca Parker, reported that “one of the escapees has since returned to the detention facility. Efforts are ongoing to locate the second individual”.

According to Customs and Border Control, “there is no information to suggest that the individual poses a threat to the wider community”, however, they instruct the public to remain vigilant.

The two men are believed to have arrived in Little Cayman on a small boat last week. The Cayman Islands are located just below Cuba in the Caribbean Sea.

There is growing concern that the Cayman Islands will have to deal with an influx of Cuban migrants in the coming months due to growing economic instability in Cuba. The country is facing its most severe economic crisis in over 30 years, marked by a deep recession, food shortages, and power outages. 

However, this escape raises concerns over the failing security measures with Cayman Island border control. 

Parker said that “CBC is actively working with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and other partner agencies to locate the outstanding escapee and ensure public safety”. 

Customs and Border Control said that “assisting or harbouring an individual or helping them enter or leave the Cayman Islands unlawfully, is an offence … and may result in a $50,000 fine and imprisonment for 7 years”. 

Members of the public who have any information regarding the whereabouts of the escaped individual are asked to contact 911, CBC Intelligence Hotline at 1-800-534-2546, or the nearest police station.