A 44-year-old St. Vincent man, who has held a U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) for over 30 years, is facing the threat of deportation after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over a 19-year-old criminal charge.
The charge stems from a possession of a small quantity of marijuana, which the man reportedly had for personal use in Texas. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves discussed the case publicly, sharing details about the situation as he understood them.
“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.
The Prime Minister, while not naming the individual, shared that the man, an electrician by profession, had been living in the United States for more than three decades. The case has raised concerns, as the man had continued to live and work in the U.S. without issue until now.
Gonsalves mentioned that he became aware of the situation through Rondy “Luta” McIntosh, the Consul General in New York, and spoke directly with the father of the detained individual. The Prime Minister then raised the matter with the chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Barbados, Miss Sullivan, who is handling matters in the absence of an ambassador.
“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 said.
The detained man is currently at a detention center and has retained legal representation. His hearing is scheduled for May, and the family is closely monitoring the situation. Gonsalves noted that he has asked the consul general to assess whether a visit to New Jersey is necessary.
“He’s 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 judgment as to whether he needs to go to New Jersey to see him, where I think he’s at,” Gonsalves added.
The case has sparked concern among many, highlighting the complexities of immigration laws and the potential consequences of past offenses, even when someone has been a legal permanent resident for decades.
