US to deport Vincentian national living in the country for over 30 years

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC):

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves says he has raised with United States officials, the issue of a St Vincent and the Grenadines national, who is under the threat of deportation despite living legally in the North American country for more than three decades.

Gonsalves said he raised the matter with the chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy in Barbados, after the St Vincent and the Grenadines Consul General, Rondy “Luta” McIntosh, had informed him of the situation.

“I’m not calling the name of the person but I know the family. And I’ve spoken to the father of this young man, and I spoke to Luta – Rondy McIntosh…” Gonsalves told the media.

“And I also had a conversation with the chargé d’affaires Miss Sullivan, who is responsible for the US Embassy at the moment in Barbados, in the absence of an ambassador…She’s going to get information, all relevant information for me,” Prime Minister Gonsalves said, adding that he had also spoken to the father of the detained Vincentian.

The 44-year-old Vincentian, has had a Permanent Resident Card – “green card” – for over 30 years, is reported to been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over a criminal charge brought against him 19 years ago for possession of a small quantity of marijuana.

Prime Minister Gonsalves told the media that the story as he understood it was that the man had had the marijuana in Texas for his personal use.

“He paid his fine. … travelled to and fro even since President Trump had come to office. But on the last occasion when he travelled, … it came up on the database that he had had this particular infraction. And despite the fact that he has had a green card for over 30 years, he’s pulled in the ICE net,” Gonsalves said.

He said the national is at a detention centre now; he has his own lawyer. They’re proceeding to deal with this matter. … I’m told by the father that there, I think on the 16th of May, or something like that. I don’t know what is happening there … but I’ve asked our Consul General that he has to use his judgement as to whether he needs to go to New Jersey to see him, where I think he’s at,” Gonsalves added.

President Trump has signed an executive order deporting many people residing in the United States, whom he has deemed either being a gang member or involved in other criminal activities. His deportation order has also netted resident living legally in the United States.

So far, an unknown number of Caribbean nationals have been deported from the North American country.