appears that Jamaicans are the main focus.

Three Jamaican men appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday for allegedly unlawfully staying in Bermuda after their visas had expired.

Their appearance came on the heels of six other Jamaican men who were in court earlier this week on the same charges.

The six were arrested during a sting operation last weekend which saw Immigration and Police take in some 15 Jamaicans for questioning.

Within the same timeframe, two other Portuguese workers have been charged with working illegally.

While one can applaud the Immigration Department for its "zero tolerance'' stance against illegal visitors, there can be very little praise for the way in which it is carrying this out.

Rounding up people in the middle of the night in their underwear or stopping them as they attempt to leave the Country seems a bit extreme.

If there is a problem with illegal residents, as there appears to be, why not grant an amnesty -- as the US has done in the past -- for illegal workers and residents? This would give such people, many of whom are simply seeking to improve their lives, a chance to leave the Island with "dignity and respect'' -- as the West Indian and Jamaican associations have pointed out.

One member of the Attorney General Chambers has expressed concern about the strain that such illegal residents could place on housing.

This fear seems a bit farfetched since many of the illegal residents probably came to Bermuda to improve their economic situation. This can hardly be done by paying the Island's rents.

And there has been no evidence that the Jamaican visitors have been working on the Island.

As the West Indian and Jamaican associations have asked: "Why were nine people the subject of searches conducted by the combined forces of the Department of Immigration and Bermuda Police Service when their credentials could easily have been verified?'' The associations -- who have stressed that they do not condone the flaunting of Bermuda's laws -- have urged all those who were arrested in the Immigration sting operation to come forward with their names in order that a dignified exit with the authorities can be negotiated.

It will be interesting to see how many will come forward in light of others' treatment thus far.

And if any do, it will be even more interesting to see what happens with them.