[UPDATED] Over 15,000 registered

APPROXIMATELY 15,000 Venezuelan migrants were registered at the close of the process at 5 pm in Port of Spain, San Fernando and Tobago. Within the next two weeks, those migrants will be issued their official registration cards. Venezuelans who were not registered will now be subject to the laws of TT and could be deported.

National Security Minister Stuart Young made these points at a news conference at the ministry's Temple Court office in Port of Spain, as he declared the registration process to be a success. Young said Government stuck to its commitment not to extend the registration process beyond yesterday's 5 pm deadline. As of that time, Young said he was advised that the only people outside of the centres were family and friends of migrants who were inside. He explained that a chit system was implemented to get crowds off the streets at the centres and there were contingency plans to continue registration over the weekend.

Young reported that immigration and police officers at all three centres will work through the night to ensure the Venezuelans complete their registration. He said claims from some people that over 40,000 Venezuelans were in TT were "false and completely untrue." Young said the total number of Venezuelans registered; the breakdown of men, women and children and the total cost of the process, will be provided in due course.

For the Venezuelans who were not registered, Young said they will be subject to TT's laws. He said a "a multi-agency task force similar to the ICE group" will handle either the removal or deportation of these people. Stressing that Government has been "very humanitarian" in dealing with the influx of Venezuelan migrants, Young said there would be no swooping down and carting off of children. Recalling his intervention at the Queens Park Oval earlier in the week, Young said all he did was ensure women and children were able to go inside to register and order was restored.

Young said the registration process had provided law enforcement with intelligence to deal with those "engaged in illegal activity including human trafficking and prostitution." With the registration process concluded, Young said the issuance of registration cards to successful migrants will take place over the next two weeks. He explained that the cards would ensure that the migrants could not be exploited by local employers. Young said it was up to the discretion of employers to hire Venezuelans.

He reiterated that the migrants would not be guaranteed access to education, have access to primary medical care but will have to pay for any other medical procedures.

This story was originally published with the title "Over 15,000 V'zuelans registered" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

NATIONAL Security Minister Stuart Young said just over 15,000 Venezuelan migrants were registered at the official close of the process at 5 pm on Friday. Young made the disclosure at a news conference at the ministry's Temple Court offices in Port of Spain. Young said the final figure of the number of Venezuelans who registered between May 31 to Friday, the cost of the registration process and the categories of people who registered will be announced in due course.
Migrants who were unable to be registered will now be subject to the country's laws and could be deported, Young said. A multi-agency task force will deal with those matters. The process to distribute registration cards to the successful migrants is expected to begin within the next two weeks. Referring to an answer given by the Prime Minister to a question in the House of Representatives earlier, Young said it would be up to the discretion of employers to hire Venezuelans. He added that the registration cards would ensure that the migrants were not being exploited.

NATIONAL Security Minister Stuart Young said just over 15,000 Venezuelan migrants were registered at the official close of the process at 5 pm on Friday. Young made the disclosure at a news conference at the ministry's Temple Court offices in Port of Spain. Young said the final figure of the number of Venezuelans who registered between May 31 to Friday, the cost of the registration process and the categories of people who registered will be announced in due course.

Migrants who were unable to be registered will now be subject to the country's laws and could be deported, Young said. A multi-agency task force will deal with those matters. The process to distribute registration cards to the successful migrants is expected to begin within the next two weeks. Referring to an answer given by the Prime Minister to a question in the House of Representatives earlier, Young said it would be up to the discretion of employers to hire Venezuelans. He added that the registration cards would ensure that the migrants were not being exploited.