[20190916]IN11166_多里安飓风后巴哈马移民救济方案.pdf

CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Immigration Relief Options for Bahamians After Hurricane Dorian Jill H. Wilson Analyst in Immigration Policy 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-born population residing in Florida. According to CRS corresp