DONALD TRUMP defended barring Hurricane Dorian survivors from entering the US, insisting the Bahamas has “very bad gang members”.
More than 100 refugees were booted off a rescue boat as they tried to flee from Freeport to Florida on Sunday evening after the Category 5 storm, which killed at least 46 people.
Thousands are missing after Dorian’s 225mph winds smashed into the Bahamas, obliterating homes and leaving 70,000 people needing food, medicine and shelter.
But the US President insisted refugees must have “totally proper documentation” to enter the US as he ignored calls to relax visa restrictions.
Mr Trump said: “So we’re also recovering from a hurricane.But we have to be very careful. “Everybody needs totally proper documentation.”
‘BAD DRUG DEALERS’
He added: “I don’t want to allow people that weren’t supposed to be in the Bahamas to come in to the United States, including some very bad people and some very bad gang members and some very, very bad drug dealers.”
Damage after Dorian was compared to the wreckage from nuclear bomb blasts.
Survivors on a ferry to Fort Lauderdale, Florida were told they needed visas to enter the US despite usually only requiring a passport and police record.
Evacuees were seen carrying young children and luggage off the ferry as they were forced from the boat.
So I have to take my baby off. At the last minute like this is kind of disappointed. It’s hurtful watching my daughters cry
Dorian survivor kicked off ferry from Bahamas to US
One woman told WSVN: “They originally said you can come with a police record and without a visa and now they’re taking that back.
“That’s really ridiculous. That’s awful.”
A dad called Oliver said: “They got a call from CBP [Customs and Border Protection] and CBP told them that everyone who doesn’t have a US visa and who is travelling on police record has to come off.
“Normally you can use police record by way of airplane at least. So I have to take my baby off.
“At the last minute like this is kind of disappointed. It’s hurtful watching my daughters cry.”
Florida Republican senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott had urged Mr Trump to waive the visa restrictions.
But the president insisted “large sections” of the Bahamas “were not hit” and ignored the lawmakers’ plea.
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Mr Trump said: “And what we’re doing is bringing the people to those sections of the Bahamas that have not been hit.”
The Grand Celebration cruise ship brought up to 1,000 hurricane survivors to the US without any visa restrictions on Friday.
But Trump has now vowed the US will be “very, very strong” on his new visa rules.
As well as high winds, Hurricane Dorian brought huge tidal surges to the Bahamas[/caption]
Survivors have described having to move during the storm as buildings fell apart around them[/caption]
The view from a bathroom now missing a part of its wall[/caption]
Hurricane Dorian has left 70,000 people in the Bahamas in need of food and shelter[/caption]
An estimated 13,000 properties were destroyed by its 225mph winds[/caption]
The storm has left many homeless and living in makeshift shelters[/caption]
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