US lawyer shows interest in Palmer deportee case
Published:Tuesday | July 12, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
An American immigration attorney is among members of the international community who have reacted to a Sunday Gleaner report featuring a Jamaican man who was deported from the United States two weeks ago under questionable circumstances.
Immediately after the story was featured online and posted on the social network, Facebook, the American attorney, Shawn Scott, was among persons in the US who contacted the wife of Donald Palmer.
In a Gleaner follow-up yesterday, Scott confirmed that he has taken an interest in the case.
"We have asked (Palmer's) wife to send us some papers to have a look at the case. So, yes, we have taken an interest, but we have not been retained."
For his part, Palmer, who seemed to be in high spirits, has expressed appreciation for the interest being shown by Scott.
"I have spoken to persons in the US, reaction is beginning to creep in," he said.
Palmer told The Gleaner that he was concerned about his wife, Ketsia Benoit-Palmer, who is due to give birth in another month.
"When I spoke to her (after Scott had contacted her), she was about to break down. I tried to reassure her that I was good."
Widespread attention
Dave Rodney, another Jamaican living in the US, told The Gleaner that the report had sparked widespread interest in sections of the country.
Palmer, who came to Jamaica with only his luggage and a certification of release from the US Supreme Court, told The Gleaner that an offer of accommodation has been made by a Jamaican until he is able to sort out his problems.
Palmer said while he has heard about the offer, he is yet to receive confirmation.
"While I am here, I need to get a job to ensure that an income is coming in," Palmer asserted
It is understood that Palmer's case has been reported in newspapers in Germany, which picked up the story.
Palmer was reportedly deported to Jamaica after residing in the US for 23 years for an offence he did not commit.
In what appears to be a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Palmer was reportedly apprehended during a police operation while heading to a friend's home in Brooklyn in 1989.
Palmer said he was advised by an attorney, who had been assigned to him by the State, to enter a guilty plea, after which the so-called simple matter would be expunged.
This decision came back to haunt Palmer, who was heavily involved in the reggae music industry overseas.
He spent the next 20 years fending off immigration and security personnel until he was sent to Jamaica two weeks ago.