Republic home early today -- in a private jet.

The planned deportation is already raising questions about why such an expensive method was chosen.

The pair stowed away on board an oil tanker, jumping ship in St. George's believing they were in New York, earlier this year.

One of the men, Mr. Jose Ramorez, was freed from Casemates last week. He has since been in the Salvation Army Harbour Light Hostel.

The other man, who has not been named, has been in Casemates for more than a month preparing to be deported today.

Flying to the Dominican Republic aboard the jet were Mr. Ramorez's lawyer Mr.

Mark Pettingill, an interpreter and two Bermudian immigration officers.

They were expected to return later today.

An anonymous source, who informed The Royal Gazette about the flight, said:: "It's a very expensive way to deport them. I don't know of them ever doing it before.'' Ramorez, 24, fled the Dominican Republic hoping to reach America. But he got off in Bermuda and was arrested, in July, on suspicion of stealing from a clothesline and convicted on two immigration offences, for which he was given three weeks in prison. While in Casemates he made at least one apparent suicide attempt.

He allegedly told Police he was called Jose Williams and Puerto Rican. But he now says his real name is Ramorez, from Santa Domingo in the Dominican Republic. This has since been confirmed by his family.

His lawyer Mr. Mark Pettingill failed in a Supreme Court bid to get him freed but later had the decision changed in Magistrates' Court.

During the time he was waiting for the second date Ramorez was accused of setting fire to a blanket in his cell in Hamilton Police Station.

Jose Ramorez says he escaped life as a beggar in the Dominican Republic by hiding on an oil tanker.

Ramorez says he was unlawfully imprisoned and is planning legal action for compensation -- maybe against Solicitor General Mr. Barrie Meade and Prisons Commissioner Mr. Edward Dyer. He praised locals who backed his $1,000 bail and helped his case.

In an interview with The Royal Gazette he said: "I don't have a mother or father and back home I lived on the streets. The only way to survive was by begging.

"I didn't like sleeping in the dirt and having nothing to eat or wear. I want to stay here but I know I can't. I don't know what the future holds for me.'' Mr. Pettingill had expressed fears that his client would eventually be deported. These fears were likely to be realised this morning.