Immigration officer counters claims of visitor abuse

The immigration officer accused of mistreating a Jamaican expatriate and her American son just over a week ago has countered the claims made by the visitor in a report lodged to the Passport, Immigration & Citizenship Agency (PICA), charging that it was he who was mistreated and verbally abused.

The officer, in a report submitted to PICA’s management two days after the incident, said Dr Rushell White and her 24-year-old son, Sage White, who arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport on August 11 from New York, were the last two passengers to present themselves for landing shortly after 4 a.m.

He said that the two were told that they were to be processed separately but White, a deputy superintendent of schools in Brooklyn, New York, “rudely” questioned whether families were no longer processed together.

The officer, in his report, said White was told that only spouses are processed together.

He said White’s son stepped back and allowed her to be processed first.

The officer claimed that while processing White, she appeared to be “typing, browsing or possibly recording” on her cell phone and was told that her phone should be off.

She is said to have responded in a “rude tone” and “loud voice” that the device was off.

CONFRONTATIONAL

The officer said that White was quizzed about her behaviour, but that was reportedly met with further argument and confrontation.

He said White’s behaviour was “boisterous” and that she was asked to step back and allow her son to be processed.

The immigration officer said that the younger White came forward shouting expletives in defence of his mother.

The officer said the young man was asked to calm down but “he continued on a tirade and used expletives”.

The officer said he left his post with the passport and immigration forms with the intention to consult his supervisor but said that the younger White approached him in an aggressive manner.

The officer said Dr White stood between the two before her son “stopped advancing and walked back”.

He said the woman then said several things, including being willing to return to the United States if her son was being sent back.

CONSIDERED DENYING ENTRY

He said White and her son had to be spoken to by several officers and that the situation with them was explained to the supervisor on duty.

The officer said the alleged behaviour of the younger White triggered conversations and that they considered refusing his leave to land.

The young man was reportedly called into the supervisor’s office and his mother was allowed to join him.

He was asked to apologise, the immigration officer said, and he agreed to do so while insisting that the officer also apologise to his mother.

The immigration officer said that request was countered and that it was pointed out that it was his mother who was rude.

The young man is said to have apologised and then granted leave to land.

The report said Dr White subsequently said that she was not trying to be rude but her flight was delayed and she was “maybe frustrated” but did not say anything for anyone to take personally.

Last week, PICA head Andrew Wynter told The Gleaner that a probe had been launched into the incident after he received the email from White.

He said that he also apologised to the visitors.

“I arrived in the country of my birth with my son who had not visited Jamaica for some 10 years and this treatment is absolutely unacceptable, unwarranted and unfortunate because that experience will forever be etched in my son’s memory,” Dr White said in the email, while noting that immigration officers were rude.

“I am concerned that had I not known Jamaica and was a first-time visitor, that would be the lasting impression that I have. I am requesting a retraining of all immigration officers, but particularly for the officer and supervisor to create a welcoming and affirming environment when individuals visit this country. Tourism is a large part of the economy of Jamaica and these experiences will greatly deter visitors,” she said.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com