SURINAME · LAW
Key Facts
- —What is happening Police removed 63 Mennonites, a Christian farming community, from state land; their lawyer says 55 were flown to Bolivia.
- —Why it matters A foreign-backed farm project in a country courting oil and farm investment now sits in court, testing how Suriname enforces immigration law.
- —The numbers Police say 63 people were removed, including three babies; the lawyer says 55 have Bolivian nationality, eight have Mexican nationality and a one-year entry ban applies.
- —Who is who Derrick Veira is the families’ lawyer; Suriname Green Energy Agriculture NV is the farm company that lost a court case on 29 October.
- —What to watch Whether the court still hears the families’ case on Monday, 2 November, now that the group has left, and what the government says.
- —What it means for you Americans weighing farm, forestry or energy investment in Suriname should expect strict permit enforcement and fast court action against foreign-backed projects.
Police removed 63 Mennonite farmers from a farm project in Suriname, and their lawyer says 55 were flown to Bolivia. A judge had refused on 29 October to block the removal.
Police removed 63 Mennonites, a conservative Christian farming community, from Mazonia, state land in Suriname, in the week of 26 October. Their lawyer says 55 were deported on Saturday, 31 October.
The case matters to US investors because it shows how strictly Suriname enforces immigration law against a foreign-backed farm project. The country is also preparing offshore oil production, which draws US interest.
What Happened to the Group
Police took the group to Kraka, a police site in the Para district. The lawyer says they were held there without access to him.
He says the group had to leave farm equipment behind. He asked the court to order immediate access to his clients.
On Thursday, 29 October, a sub-district judge, Deborah Haakmat-Sniphout, rejected a fast-track court action by the farm company. The company is Suriname Green Energy Agriculture NV, which is behind the project.
The ruling left the state free to enforce its immigration law. Police had earlier ordered the group to leave the state land by Friday, 23 October.
The lawyer says a chartered flight took the group out of Suriname on Saturday, 31 October. He says 55 people with Bolivian nationality went to Bolivia and may not enter Suriname for one year.
Eight people with Mexican nationality were not on that flight, he says. Their removal was planned for Sunday, 1 November.
The Legal Dispute
The lawyer says the state broke the Aliens Act 1991, Suriname’s law on the entry and removal of foreigners. He says the families asked President Jennifer Simons to review their case and that her office acknowledged the request.
The Aliens Act claims are the lawyer’s, not court findings. Justice Minister Harish Monorath said none held permits; the lawyer says passport stamps show extended stays.
A second fast-track case, filed by the families themselves, was set for Monday, 2 November. The lawyer says he will ask the court to rule on whether the government acted lawfully.
How the Project Began
In 2022 the then foreign minister approved the arrival of about 50 Mennonite families for three years, with conditions. Farming needed separate permits.
Mennonites are Low German-speaking Christian farmers, and communities of them also farm in Bolivia, Mexico and Belize. Their presence in Suriname has been a political issue for almost four years.
What It Means for You
US investors in Suriname’s oil, forestry and farming sectors should expect strict immigration enforcement and fast court action. Work and residence permits are a real risk for foreign-backed projects.
No travel disruption or effect on oil projects has been confirmed. Check the US State Department advisory for Suriname before any trip.
Related Rio Times reports are Suriname Power Shortfall Could Reach 140 MW and Suriname’s GranMorgu Oil Stays on Schedule. The Suriname hub and Who Dominates Suriname, Elites and Regions Explained add context.
What Is Not Known
No government statement confirming the 55 deportations, the Bolivian destination or the one-year ban was found. Those details come from the families’ lawyer.
The minister said most came from Brazil; the lawyer gives other figures. The Monday hearing outcome and the status of the eight Mexican nationals are unknown.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Mennonites did Suriname remove?
Police say 63 people were removed from Mazonia, including three babies. Their lawyer says 55 were deported on Saturday, 31 October.
Why were the Mennonites removed?
Justice Minister Harish Monorath said the group held no residence or work permits. The lawyer says stays were extended and the state broke the Aliens Act 1991.
What did the court decide?
On 29 October a sub-district judge rejected the farm company’s fast-track action. The ruling left the state free to enforce its immigration law.
Does the case affect travel or oil projects in Suriname?
No effect on travel or oil projects has been confirmed. The dispute concerns a farm project and immigration law.
Sources: Statements by Suriname police and by lawyer Derrick Veira, 29 to 31 October 2026; sub-district court ruling of 29 October 2026 in summary proceedings (as described by the parties); Suriname Aliens Act 1991, Law of 16 January 1992, text via UNHCR Refworld; Government of Suriname; US State Department travel advisory for Suriname (accessed 2 November 2026).
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