Grenada firmly rejects return of deported non-nationals

Grenada’s cabinet has emphatically turned down a request from the Trump administration for it to accept dozens of people deported from the US to the Eastern Caribbean island, saying it has no intention of doing so.

Minister of Foreign Joseph Andall in Barbados for this week’s regional leaders summit noted that the US formally requested Grenada, but this is not being entertained in any way. Andall spoke on a public radio program on the issue this week. The request was sent to St. George’s in late January.

“There was a request for us to host nationals of third countries who may be deported. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to do that and we have communicated that to the US authorities. We did get communication from them towards the end of January that they will probably be repatriating or deporting Grenadian citizens. They also spoke about the consequences of countries not wanting to receive their nationals.”

The minister said, however, that Grenada would have no problems accepting its nationals who are deported from the US for whatever reason during this period when mass deportations are underway.

“Grenada is home to all Grenadians, and we are prepared and ready to welcome back any Grenadian who is repatriated, regardless of their circumstances. Of course, there may be some with particular backgrounds to whom we may have to give particular attention. However, we have every intention of accepting bona fide Grenadians who are repatriated from whatever country. Deportation and repatriation are nothing new. If you look at the records, you will see a couple of hundred people have been repatriated from the US, Canada, and the UK without any fanfare.”

Grenada and the Turks and Caicos Islands were among the countries the US had identified as possible destinations for deportees from third countries, but like Grenada, they have emphatically rejected the outreach.

Meanwhile, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali was just last week forced to quash media speculation for now that Guyana and the US are actually in talks about deportees following recent meetings with top officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“What we are discussing is our partnership with the US, and as the US unfolds its program and plans wherever Guyana can be of support, we have expressed our support. But nothing about prisons and having deportees here,” he said.