Immigration officers from across the country participated in a two day workshop on Hague Convention matters and family court procedures, focusing on children travelling with one parent and restrictions affecting people before the courts.
The workshop brought together Chief Magistrate Deborah Rogers, the Family Court and the Immigration Department within the Ministry of Immigration, Governance and Labour to address issues that overlap in their work.
Chief Magistrate Rogers identified common concerns involving parents travelling with children without the other parent present, requests to the Family Court for a “single mother letter”, and compliance with bail conditions that restrict movement.
The training covered legislation relevant to Hague Convention matters and applications under the Family and Children’s Act, helping officers understand their responsibilities when these issues arise at border checkpoints.
Officers also examined practices for handling travel involving children and identifying warning signs that may require further checks.
The workshop addressed a gap in access to guidance on court procedures and expectations, which officers had generally encountered through opportunities to attend court. Chief Magistrate Rogers and 2 Immigration Officers explained how the training will improve communication with travelers.