St. Vincent PM raises concerns about deportees from US

St. Vincent Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has voiced concern over the United States’ deportation policies, stating that Washington fails to provide critical background information on deportees being returned to their home countries.

Speaking on state-owned NBC Radio, Gonsalves said his government has yet to receive any official notification from U.S. authorities regarding the deportation of Vincentian nationals. However, he acknowledged a document circulating online, reportedly from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which lists 127 Vincentians among the 1,445,549 noncitizens with final orders of removal as of November 24, 2024.

“We have heard the announcements by the new administration of President Trump, and we have seen things circulating… we have not received anything formal about that,” Gonsalves said.

Concerns over lack of information

The prime minister emphasized that while countries have the right to deport individuals they consider undesirable, the receiving nations should be provided with adequate details on those being repatriated.

“You may deport somebody… all the information we have is that John Brown was serving five years for burglary, armed robbery, or whatever it is,” Gonsalves explained. “But we do not know the history of this person: how long that person was in the United States, his or her skills, educational attainment, or criminal record.”

This lack of information, he stressed, poses challenges for law enforcement and social services, as deportees must be reintegrated into society.

“When that person arrives at Argyle International Airport, our security forces may hold that person for a short period to question them… but they are not obliged to answer,” he noted. Additionally, many deportees lack family support, forcing the government to provide temporary accommodations.

Potential security risks for St. Vincent

Gonsalves warned of the risks that mass deportations could pose to small nations like St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“Could you imagine if you send home 50 persons who are criminally minded or, in some cases, might be psychopaths?” he questioned.

He reiterated that Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders have repeatedly raised this issue with Washington, calling for better communication and adherence to international best practices in handling deportations.

The matter is expected to be a key topic at the upcoming CARICOM summit in Barbados from February 19-21, which will be attended by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.