US makes plans to deport 1000s of Jamaicans
(The Gleaner): Jamaica should brace itself for a wave of deportees from the United States as the numbers in jail has swelled. Clifford Chambers, security attaché at the Jamaican Embassy in Washington, told The Gleaner that more than 6,000 Jamaicans were now in US custody facing deportation proceedings. Chambers, said he could not estimate how many of this number would eventually be sent back as each case would be considered on merit. "In recent times, we are faced with an influx of Jamaicans in US custody who are facing deportation, and that has to do with the beefing up of staff in the immigration and customs sections by the US authorities," Chambers said. "The majority of them are not really felony charges. The majority of them are people who come here legally and have overstayed their visas."
Category: World News
It’s A Limit Where Ever You Go
It’s a saying you go amongst the Romans you do as they do are you leave.
Well same differents, you know it’s not your country your just there visiting. So that means your on time, when it’s done leave it’s another time you can always go and come.
Dah!
To: Tue, 06/15/2010 – 16:48
I do not see that any comments here were directed against Jamaicans generally but were instead against those of criminal character who are being deported. I find it difficult to understand why you would align yourself with them by taking this as an affront to all Jamaicans since as you say not all Jamaicans are ruthless and bad. This seems to be a tendency amongst many Jamaicans here. In the Dudus affair defence of Dudus and of those supporting Dudus in Tivoli seems to be taken as a matter of national pride.
The fact is that in the past persons who were deported back to Jamaica did find themselves on to Cayman.
Where Caymanians have committed crimes in other countries I do not see any support for them by other Caymanians. Instead, because we recognise that they may spoil the reputation of Caymanians and make things difficult for us there is disgust.
I am one Jamaican who always speak proudly of the cayman and it’s people, now that i’ve seen all the negative respond about us, it’s hard to even say I would want to visit the place I fell in love twentytwo years ago. Negative mind think negative of others, not all Jamaicans are ruthless and bad as one would say." I wish all Jamaican in the Cayman Island would just leave, and see how Fosters supermarket and all the other stores would do in business", all ten thousand should leave.
Seriously, A lot of us, non-Jamaicans, are leaving. Foreigners are not wanted in Cayman. Deal with it – so we are…..Sell your property, quit your job, cut your losses, and move on.. It was always a bit of a crap-shoot ….
Please don’t feel that way. People are very frustrated at the moment. Of course Jamaicas are not all ruthless and bad, but there are quite a number who are and they make it bad for everyone else. It is them that you should direct your anger against.
You shouldn’t a few negative Caymanians allow you to brand an entire country of Caymanians the same way! By allowing such weaknessin yourself to occur, you are doing the same thing they are doing to you and your people. Where’s the logic in your generalization?
Your response is not a godly response. I know many other Jamaican would respond differently, because they look on thepositive side of Cayman as well.
Absolutely correct.
From your capacity, you re talking nonsence.
I am amazed at the comments on the above article. The same comments were made on an article regarding the Dudus affair. Let me ask the question, how many Jamaicans were running to Cayman during this time? did we see boat loads or plane loads of Jamaicans trying to come here or anywhere else? NO we did not. The level of discussion shows the lack of intelligent thinking. The majority of Jamaicans do not know of the Cayman Islands contrary to what is believed by most Caymanians.
CNS do you ever print anything on other countries if my memory serves me there are over 99 nationalities living here yet no news on them.
I agree with your posting. Thousands of people from every country are deported from the US on a daily basis. Jamaica is just another country like all the rest (Caymans Islands included) that faces this dilemma. I am disgusted with the way Jamaicans are portrayed in the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands speak poorly of Jamaicans and it is time for Jamaicans to stand up for themselves and to speak against the slander that have surrounded us. If the Caymanians do not want us in their great country then do not allow us in and send the Jamaicans who are currently there home. Do not approve our work permits and then use us to promote tourism in your country and then bad talk us on top of that. This way you all won’t have anything to say. As posted previously why is there no or limited news on the other nationalities who work and reside in the Cayman Islands? I reside in the US and have known several Caymanians who have been deported and many more who are residing here illegally (they are running away from the crime and the lack of progress that is in the Cayman Islands). Caymanians think that the Cayman Islands is Heaven and that is far from the truth. Take a good look at what is going on around you. Jamaicans are being blamed for crime and the majority of the crimes being committed are being done by the Caymanians. They need to stop complaining and blaming us for everything that goes wrong and stand up and take responsibility. One person stated that it is a fact that Jamaicans don’t love their country and it is too violent and has political corruption etc. This is NOT a fact. Every country in the world has violence and some sort of political corruption so don’t point the finger at Jamaica solely (take a look at the West Bay area for example). Also, it is ignorant to state that Jamaicans don’t love their country. Every person has likes and dislikes about their country but at the end of the day home is home. Jamaica, like many of the other islands is independent and does not have the luxury and comfort of England to bail us out when hard times hit. We do it on our own. We do not have English investigators at our disposal when the RCIP are unable to solve the crimes. Caymanians really need to come out of their shells and get rid of their small island mentality. You all may think poorly of Jamaicans but in other parts of the world Jamaicans are known to be dedicated, passionate, hard working, honest and respectable people. My Jamaican people, please continue to be proud of who you are and that you can make a life anywhere in the world.
You keep repeating the same nationalistic rhetoric that seems to be popular as a defence tactic with many Jamaicans. It is not "slander" to report the FACT that 6,000 Jamaicans are being deported from the U.S. The fact is that the rate of deportation is high compared to most countries of similar population. This is very relevant to us because Jamaica is one of our closest neighbours and in the past we have found that Jamaicans deported from other countries have found their way to Cayman. Why would we have a similar interest in the numbers being deported to say Colombia? Unlike you, Caymanians do not seek to justify or minimise the wrongdoing of other Caymanians in someone else’s country or claim that they are being blamed because of prejudice.
"Jamaicans are being blamed for crime and the majority of the crimes being committed are being done by the Caymanians". You have stated that you reside in the U.S. What possible factual basis would you have for making such a statement, particularly as most of our crimes are unsolved? Close connections with the Cayman criminal underworld? Prejudice?
I don’t know how anyone can say that Jamaicans don’t love their country but it is clearly a fact that it is too corrupt and too violent by any standard. Most Jamaicans, at least when in Jamaica, will readily admit this.
And there you go with the slur of "small Island mentality". Is it "small Island mentality" that is causing the British, U.S. and UK Govts. to not only impose visas but deport large numbers of law-breaking Jamaicans every year, or to be vigilant about the Jamaican posses that create so much upheaval in their respective countries? I believe if you are honest you will acknowledge that it is patent nonsense to suggest Jamaicans have a sterling reputation everywhere else in the world. You need to face facts and stop trying to blame everyone else for the shortcomings of some of your countrymen.
Firstly, when I referenced slander I was referring to the "bad talk" that Jamaicans receive from Caymanians not the deportation issue. Kindly refer to the posting to review my words. Next, this article pertains to the immigration relationship between the US and Jamaica. I don’t know why the Cayman Islands involved itself in the publishing of this article. In essence, it is really none of the Cayman Islands concern. When such articles are published the tourism in Jamaica is likely to be affected. Does the Jamaican newspapers ever bad talk the Cayman Islands? Perhaps we should make newspapers in several countries aware of what is going on there.The article published in the Gleaner said that 6000 Jamaicans would be deported. Where in the article did it say that the 6000 people had criminal backgrounds. The Jamaicans who live illegally in the US are hard workers. Their wages are minimal and they are unable to purchase houses, cars and travel to see their families. It is a big sacrifice. They often send their money home to take care of loved ones. It is not a grand life. Why are these people being classified as criminals? I guess trying to take care of one’s family is a crime in some Caymanians eyes. In the US, there are people from Haiti, Mexico, Guatemala and so many other countries that are illegal. These illegal immigrants outweigh the Jamaican illegal immigrants by far. Please get your facts straight before throwing numbers out. The Caymans are so concerned about the 6000 deportees making their way to the islands and yet they let criminals from other countries in. I guess a thief knows a thief. It shows just how grand your immigration system is. You stated that I may have criminal underworld connections because I stated that Jamaicans are blamed immensely for the crimes that take place in the Caymans. I wasn’t aware that there was an underground criminal connection in the Caymans, apparently you know something about this. Perhaps I should let the rest of the world know this exists because Caymanians think they do no wrong and often sweep things under the rug.To me the real criminals are the politicans. immigration and customs officials and the police officers. In any event, I am standing up for my Jamaican people because it is time someone did. The Jamaicans who are currently in the Caymans are probably fearful to speak up because of permit and status revocation, etc. I have no fear to speak up. If Mandela, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. did not stand up for people then who knows where we would all be (perhaps still in shackles and chains). They all spoke up about the unfair treatment we were receiving and led the way in revolutionizing the world. If it wasn’t for them then Obama would not be where he is today. It is time the Caymanians stop the hatred and animosity toward Jamaicans because one day the table will turn. Truth always hurts!
One the one hand you are angry about Jamaicans being ‘slandered’ and on the other hand you quip that the truth always hurts. You should reflect upon that before saying it.
I have already explained why the issue is pertinent to Cayman: (1) because of previous experience with deportees; (2) there are some 10,000 Jamaicans in Cayman; and (3) in any event Jamaica is our closest neighbour and one with whom we have close connections. Should we bury our heads in the sand by censoring the press simply because you may be embarrassed?. This story has been reported all over the Caribbean. If you read newspapers from other countries you would know that. The Jamaican Press does carry stories which may be embarrassing to Cayman. Indeed at times when the stories involve Jamaicans in Cayman they are deliberately distorted so as to cast Cayman/Caymanians in a bad light.
I did not state that you had criminal underworld connections in Cayman. I asked the question how you could state as a fact that it is Caymanians committing all of the crimes given that most of our crimes are unsolved. By way of question, I suggested two possibilities. You have simply chosen to deflect the issue by falsely claiming that I have said you have criminal underworld connections rather than admit that you have no objective information but have made your statement out of pure malice. Always playing the innocent victim. If you have gangs, if you have drugs and guns being smuggled in, you clearly have a criminal underworld. That is self-evident.
The article specfically stated the majority of the 6000 Jamaicans had not committeed felonies. However, previous statistics have shown that even if you remove those who are guilty of relatively minor offences the number for serious offences is far too high, and much higher than any other country in the region with the exception of the Dominican Republic. It was reported in 2009 that the number of CRIMINAL deportees from the U.S. over a 10 year was 14,006 for Jamaica as compared to Trinidad’s 2,589 and the Bahamas’s 940. Whether you take that statistic as a proportion of the respective country’s total populations in the U.S. or in the home country, that is a staggering number and is wildly disproportionate.
You are right that sometimes undesirables from other countries slip in. Our immigration system needs to have better checks, e.g fingerprinting. However, a check of deportation records will tell you where the major problem is.
You have proved my point by trying to justify the criminality of some of your countrymen as some sort of expression of nationalism. The plain fact is that if life is too difficult and I could not continue live in someone else’s country legally then I would leave. Note that they are not being classified as "criminals" by Cayman but by the U.S. – one of the the countries where Jamaicans have a sterling reputation according to you. Such is your hatred for Cayman and Caymanians that you cannot think clearly. Since you have no fear to speak up and live in another country (note that I have not made the same claim), why do you post anonymously?
While it is the true that with the majority of countries whose citizens are deported the vast majority are for immigration-related offences that is not true for the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Jamaica where the majority of those deported are criminals.
BAD TALK that Jamaicans receive from Caymanians? Obviously you have not travelled the world. Otherwise you would not make such a statement.
Implement a national ID card system. Police and Immigration can stop anyone and check their immigration status and fingerprint everyone here already and those arriving for the first time. WE have to do it in MIami – what’s the difference doing it here.
Have we now moved to Arizona? We cannot handle an influx of persons to this island, but exactly who will get checked for papers etc?
Take photos of people entering from certain countries, and of people on work permits. This doesn’t require everyone carrying an ID. That would be the solution if we had Jamaican’s illegally entering Cayman, not illegally staying.
Well the US is under any obligation to comply with the ECHR. Cayman is. Mandatory fingerprinting for use in generalised crime investigation is illegal here.
The U.S. is a party to a number of international human rights instruments which have the same effect as the ECHR, e.g. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
I hope McKeeva and his people are going to beef up security at the airport by implementing the finger printing system, the scanning of passports and the background check system at the airport and the docks. Half of those Jamaicans will probably find their way on our shores and in our homes. If they overstayed and committed crimes in the USA, they will do the same here. Maybe that’s why Air Jamaica has decided to fly here again in anticipation. I think McKeeva, you have done enough favours for them. Its time to shut our doors to anymore of those status grants. Cayman has repaid Jamaica for whatever favour their claim we owe them, I don’t however think we owed them anything though in the first place.
Thank heavens that I don’t need your help and STATUS approval. As a Jamaican I personally have been blessed financially and have helped and continue to help some Caymanians. The Jamaicans are helping run the Cayman Islands right now and in time you all will see just how much we have contributed to your country despite your ungratefulness.
You might help us by identifying precisely what it is that we should be grateful for. The fact that there are Jamaicans in leadership positions in Jamaican belies your claim of this great prejudice against Jamaicans. Certainly any help is not being given pro bono. It seems to me that Cayman has helped Jamaica many times over what it ever helped Cayman.
How has the Cayman Islands helped Jamaica?
Obviously by employing Jamaicans who would otherwise have no work in Jamaica and who are then able to send millions of dollars back to Jamaica.
Employing Jamaicans??? You mean USING Jamaicans. Jamaicans help promote tourism (and other business ventures) in the Caymans and we are not appreciated. How do you know the Jamaicans don’t have work in Jamaica? Perhaps they need a change of environment or they need it for visa purposes. Ex pats are eligible for certain jobs which are often low paying and ones that the Caymanians refuse. We work hard for the millions that you claim we make. They key word here is work. We earn our money it is not given to us. Jamaicans come to Cayman and bring their businesses and employ Caymanians. We contribute to the economy by purchasing items to take home to our families. We fly Cayman Airways to Miami and England.When Hurricane Ivan hit Cayman, Jamaica was one of the first countries to send supplies to help. In addition to these supplies we sent machinery (bulldozers, tractors etc) to assist in the rebuilding of the country. I personally aided in arranging this so I have first hand knowledge of the extreme measures that Jamaica endured to ensure that Cayman received help. I also arranged for money to be sent to various families. I was not the only Jamaican doing this. There were many of my "shortcoming countrymen" (as you put it) that did the same. I have never known Cayman to assist Jamaica when faced with any natural disasters or crises.There are many Caymanians who live in Jamaica and they are not treated as "outsiders". They are welcomed and treated with respect and dignity. Many of them make Jamaica their home and have started families etc. (What is it they are running from?) Going back in time, when Cayman was dependent on Jamaica we were the ones who helped build and develop the Cayman Islands. The majority of Caymanians have Jamaican heritage in their blood. So keep in mind when you bad talk Jamaicans you are bad talking your own self and your family.Caymanians refer to Jamaicans as "pan heads". Well, keep in mind that it is the same "pan heads" who supplied Caymanians with food and water back in the day when your water was tainted and impure. This type of water is hazardous to your health so in essence we kept you safe from harm. As the Bible says, do not bite the hand that feeds you. I could go on and on and on but I’ll stop here. I am going to utilize my time by making some more millions so I can continue to help some Caymanians.
How do I know?! Because I employ Jamaicans. Jamaicans who were rolled over and had no work in Jamaica for a year and were desparate to return. They do not feel used but grateful. The fact that you "earn money" says you are not used.
Yes, Jamaicans do contribute to our economy. You would do well to talk about a mutually beneficial relationship rather Jamaicans being "used".
I don’t "bad talk" Jamaicans but you are plainly "bad talking" Caymanians. And as far as contributing to our tourism product is concerned there is a real problem with taxi drivers of Jamaican origin who "bad talk" Cayman to tourists. So much for promoting our tourism product.
For the record, during days of ‘dependency’ Cayman received very little help from Jamaica. There were no great sacrifices made. Quite the opposite when Caymanians went to Jamaica in search of work they were disrespected and called nasty names by many Jamaicans, no doubt despising "small Island" people as you have.
It is plain lie to say that Cayman has never helped Jamaica during any disaster. Ordinary Caymanians are known for giving generously to any relief effort be it in Jamaica, Nicaragua, Honduras or Haiti.
You are clearly an embittered soul who no amount of reasoning will help. if you do not purge youself of that bitterness it will destroy you wherever you reside. I am done.
"For the record,during days of ‘dependency’ Cayman received very little help from Jamaica".
Absolutely correct. See pages 148-150, 153-156 of ‘Founded Upon the Seas’. There was no voluntary assistance, and meager assistance was given by the Governor of Jamaica only after much begging. Any financial support for Cayman was seen as drain on the resources of Jamaica. One heading "Benign Neglect" and one quote sums it up: "The formal recognition of the Cayman Islands as a dependency of Jamaica was acceptable to Jamaican legislators as long as it did not prove to be a financial burden" (pg. 150). The heading
Cayman Islands Government this is the time for your Finger Printing Machines – Too much to loose and nothing to gain, with Cayman being too small for the influx. Very soon we are going to have to find another man’s land which is not as easy as it is in Cayman. Immigration Department and Internal Affairs it is hoped that you are ready to face this "Caribbean Tune", Do we have a Detention Room or Lock -up at the Airport?? What are we wating for?
God Bless the Cayman Islands and our future.
What the US dumpeth Cayman will get stuck with!
That is no lie.
a silly comment!
Cayman has to take a reality check!! – so nothing seems silly here.
Too many Jamaicans just don’t love their own country – the same system they have to deal with when they go back home! In Jamaica you have too much violence, too much political corruption, and too much "wealth" in the hands of a few! Hate to say it, but that is the God’s honest truth!
Cayman’s government better learn from this! If you make it too hard for the people here, per every 10 expatriate there will be 1 Caymanian soon. many young Caymanians will pick upand go… and that will be very sad!
Caymans Government HAS learned from this and have been implementing the political corruption and wealth in the hands of the few for many many years now. The crime and violence have already caught up to Jamaica’s standards and the reason they have been able to do this is because the people that they represent have let them and will continue to let them. Face it already. A washing machine will buy 4 years of do what you want in Cayman. How many Caymanians that go away to get an education come back to stay already? What rock are you hiding under? Probably the same one most Caymanians are also hiding under because its easier than standing up to your leadership. Caymanians will never stand together but they will by paying the bills forever.
Well, I hope that the government here will have the senseto beef up the immigration and custom services here to help prevent them from eventually making their way here!
Hope away. Cayman Government are not "prepared" to handle any of the problems they currently have. The premiers way of ‘handling things involve first class travel, 5 star hotels and meals, and long distance telephone calls. Get real!
Forewarned is forewarned. We have quite enough of our own home-grown criminals, we don’t need any imported ones. Besides which, we don’t have any work for anymore importees. I think drastic action is called for now,
well hoping that Gov will beef up immigration is ok, but there is a good tool out there to do this, if they are deported from the U S all you will have to do is google that persons name and it will give you all you need. It just goes to show you how clever they are, give them an inch and they take a yard.
We have to let the GOVERNMENT know that we as Caymanians are not, will not allow them, for a few votes to destroy our Islands.
there is no one else to blame but us, we bring them here, we pay minimum wages to them so they committ their crimes.If we as caymanians do what is right, when their permits are up turn them in to immigration and see to it that they have left the island, then we may get a hand on it.Until this is done we suffer.
This is the absolute truth.