CARICOM urged to prepare for US deportation surge

CARICOM countries must develop urgent contingency plans to address the potential mass deportation of Caribbean nationals from the United States, Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM David Comissiong has warned. 

The call comes in response to President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration within hours of coming to power on Monday, which could have far-reaching implications for West Indian immigrant communities in the US and beyond. 

In response to the measures, which may have an impact on scores of CARICOM nationals living and working in the US, Ambassador Comissiong told Barbados TODAY that the impact may be significant, and as such, it will be important for CARICOM countries to develop contingency plans to address the anticipated return of deported individuals.

He said: “CARICOM countries have to be concerned because the US has been a prime migration destination for our people, and there are many CARICOM citizens or people of CARICOM ancestry in the US. So I think that beyond just concern, I think our countries would be well advised to be proactive and to put some contingency plans in place.

“If, as seems likely, significant numbers of our people will be deported back home, we have to be prepared for that. So we need to give some thoughts on how we respond, how we would be able to help such persons reintegrate into our societies.”

The ambassador noted that the CARICOM summit, set to be held here from February 19 -21, offers a timely platform for addressing the issue: “I would imagine by then a pattern should have emerged as to exactly how severe the Trump deportation policy would be in relation to CARICOM countries. The [summit] would be a good opportunity for all of the prime ministers, the foreign ministers, [and] attorneys general to come to grips with this and discuss it among themselves.

“I would hope that right now, even informally, our heads of government are talking to each other and preparing our countries to be able to respond to whatever emerges from Trump’s deportation policies.”

The CARICOM envoy also criticised the current US administration’s immigration stance on aiming to revoke birthright citizenship, despite it being enshrined in the country’s Constitution. He characterised it as being rooted in fear and exclusion. He contrasted this with CARICOM’s approach, highlighting Barbados’ commitment to inclusivity and openness.

Ambassador Comissiong said: “This fear of immigrants that the Trump administration is [pushing] is in direct contradiction to our own instincts and our own policies. Far from honouring birthright citizenship, we want to go even further. We want to extend citizenship to not just the children, but the grandchildren, and perhaps even the great-grandchildren of Barbadians born abroad.

“Our policy is not based on fear or fear of people. Our policy is not based on seeking to de-legitimise the children of immigrants born in our country; whether one or more of their parents are ‘undocumented’ or illegal. So I think we know where we stand on an issue like that.” 

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb