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The launch of the new migration registration process in Trinidad and Tobago, introduced by the government as a means to "order" the situation of thousands of undocumented immigrants, began amid technical failures, long hours of uncertainty, and concern among foreign communities, including Cubans living in that Caribbean country.
Since midnight on January 26, when the digital platform for the Migrant Registration Framework was officially launched, the interest was massive. In just 13 hours, the website received more than 137,000 visits, according to figures provided by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. However, this high traffic quickly resulted in system crashes and the inability to complete the process for hundreds of individuals, reported Trinidad & Tobago Guardian.
For many migrants, the first day was more frustration than relief. Yorlandy Almanza, a Cuban immigrant residing in Trinidad and Tobago, told the Guardian that he faced serious challenges accessing the platform. Like him, others turned to cybercafés and migrant support organizations in hopes of finding assistance in a system that was unresponsive.
"We tried to access the site, and it just didn't work," explained Fenton Barriteau, owner of a business in San Fernando that often assists immigrants with online procedures. He stated that people began arriving early looking for support, but the portal either redirected them or crashed, making it impossible to proceed with the registration.
The technical problem was accompanied by a clear emotional burden. Organizations that work directly with migrant communities warned that the failures could discourage participation in a process that, for many, represents the only opportunity to regularize their status and avoid potential deportation.
Angie Ramnarine, from the La Romaine Migrant Support Group (LARMS), told the Guardian that immigrants had been waiting for weeks for the registration to begin, and the poor start generated anxiety and distrust.
"We expected a more efficient process than in 2019," said Ramnarine, who fears that the initial setbacks will deter people who are already living in fear and uncertainty.
That fear was also reflected in testimonies collected by Newsday. Migrants reported receiving messages of "invalid information" when attempting to access the system, the inability to complete forms, and concerns about potential legal consequences, especially among those who had been deported in the past and later returned to the country. Some, out of fear, chose not to reveal their names.
Technical pressure is compounded by the registration fee. Adults must pay a fee of 700 Trinidadian dollars, an amount that many consider high. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister was clear in dismissing any possibility of lowering the price. “No,” she responded when asked about the possibility of reducing the fee, as reported by the Guardian.
The Minister of National Security, Roger Alexander, has defended the process as a necessary measure to enhance security and have greater control over who resides in the country.
In statements quoted by Daily Trinidad Express, it was warned that those who do not register within the established deadline may face immediate deportation. The registration, it was assured, will allow migrants to live and work legally in Trinidad and Tobago until December 31, 2026.
For the Cubans who have arrived in that country seeking a survival alternative away from the crisis on the island, the process represents a mix of hope and anxiety. Becoming regularized means being able to work without hiding, but it also involves placing trust in a system that, at least on its first day, did not live up to expectations.
Online registration will be open until February 25, and in-person verifications will begin after Carnival. In the meantime, hundreds of migrants—including Cubans—continue to struggle to complete a process that could determine their immediate future in Trinidad and Tobago, caught between a failing portal and the constant fear of being left out.
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