Abuse allegations rock Immigration training program

Serious allegations of abuse have emerged from the Department of Immigration’s training program. Reports from concerned parents and others close to the new trainees have painted a troubling picture of verbal and physical mistreatment by trainers, including demeaning language, excessive physical punishment, and unprofessional conduct.

The Class of 2025, comprising approximately 50 immigration trainees, began training on April 7, 2025. However, less than a week in, reports have surfaced alleging a toxic and abusive training environment, with specific complaints leveled against the lead trainer, Grade 1 Immigration Officer Nadia Balfour.

Trainees are reportedly enduring harsh verbal abuse, with trainers regularly using profanity and derogatory terms such as “stupid,” “ugly,” “frowsy,” and “failure” to belittle recruits. Spitting during shouting, forced animal-like behavior—including the infamous “duck walk”—and degrading name assignments unrelated to their real identities are among the claims made.

Some trainees claim they have been made to crawl through dirt, lift cement blocks during squats, and write the entire Psalm 119 hundreds of times. One trainee reportedly suffered a nosebleed due to the strain of the exercises, while another is said to have dropped out altogether.

In one incident, a trainee was involved in a car accident while rushing to make the early 4:30 a.m. call time, only to be expected back by 7:30 a.m. for the main training session. Another trainee alleges a trainer splashed water in their face.

The training approach has raised red flags not only for its intensity but also for who is conducting it. Some trainers reportedly have less than five years’ experience.

Trainees who relocated from Grand Bahama are also facing logistical and financial strain, as they were allegedly required to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.