PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
US Ambassador clarifies Washington's position on Gambian deportees
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - The US Ambassador to the Gambia, Patricia Alsup, has clarified the misunderstanding surrounding the deportation of Gambians from the United States, saying that
her country, just like the Gambia, has a right to determine who stays or visits the US, for how long and under what condition.
“When non-citizens are convicted of crimes in the United States, or when they have overstayed their visas, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department (ICE) is responsible for returning them to their home countries, when ordered to do so by a US immigration judge," she pointed out.
“It is important to remember that the United States is a nation built on respect for the rule of law, and this includes our immigration law,” she said in a statement made available PANA in Banjul on Thursday.
She further explained that an immigration judge presides over full and fair immigration proceedings for each individual, adding that individuals who have exhausted all their legal options and are found ineligible to remain in the United States are ordered removed to their countries of origin.
She revealed that since 2015, ICE has repatriated Gambians in the United States via commercial and charter flights, including the 36 Gambian deportees returned to the Gambia on a charter flight in early March.
“Conversations between various entities within the United States Government and the Government of The Gambia to repatriate Gambian citizens who are in violation of US laws have been ongoing for over a year with the objective of coordinating lawful repatriations by commercial and/or charter flights as appropriate.
When individuals refuse to return home on a commercial flight, sometimes after causing a disturbance at the airport, ICE Air Operations conducts special charter flights. In accordance with ICE policy, individuals on removal flights are restrained for the duration of the flight for safety reasons," Ambassador Alsup pointed out.
She said ICE personnel take every precaution to ensure the safety and welfare of those in their custody, as well as the crew and other personnel on each removal flight, adding that as with all removal flights, on the March charter medical personnel from the ICE Health Service Corps assessed each individual and determined all were properly fit to travel.
Ambassador Alsup noted that ICE also provided a nutritionally balanced diet, prepared and presented in a sanitary and hygienic food service operation during the flight.
“Well in advance, the United States Government advised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the charter flight that garnered recent attention, and the Gambian government authorized the flight’s landing clearance and arranged for the appropriate personnel to be on hand for its arrival.
Prior to departure from the United States, each deportee has the opportunity to sell or otherwise dispose of his or her personal items in the United States.
"He or she can also sign a power of attorney while in custody to allow a friend or family member to handle his or her affairs if necessary. Deportees are allowed to bring personal items back with them on the flight, subject to a weight restriction," she explained.
She added: “The United States Government does not, however, provide deportees with funds to resettle in their home country. Instead, inThe Gambia, we work closely with the President Adama Barrow administration to strengthen governance, public service delivery, and the economy so that all Gambians, including those returning home, will have the opportunity to thrive.”
She also recalled that in October 2017, the U.S. government funded a capacity-building project for Gambian National Assembly Members to promote good governance, transparency, and the rule of law.
“We are also building the government’s capacity to investigate and prosecute the financial crimes of the previous administration, and are assisting the government with developing a broad framework for security-sector reform. We have provided funding to the International Republican Institute (IRI) to conduct trainings, guided discussions, and awareness campaigns to deepen community understanding of democracy, peaceful co-existence, and conflict mitigation," she revealed.
Ambassador Alsup said her government is working to promote economic development and advance health in The Gambia, revealing that USAID has committed to providing technical assistance on debt management and the U.S. Treasury Department has committed to providing revenue administration assistance to the Ministry of Finance.
She added that USAID is also helping the government evaluate the entire healthcare sector and provide guidance on improving the delivery of health services to all Gambian citizens.
According to her, US President Donald Trump just recently reinstated The Gambia for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), saying that the main benefit of AGOA is that it enhances duty-free access to the U.S. market for certain goods, which allows Gambian producers to sell their products to American consumers.
“African countries participating in AGOA have seen growth in their textile and apparel markets, and are beginning to export new products such as cut flowers, horticultural products, automotive components, and steel," she noted.
The U.S. government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) strives to reduce poverty in developing nations through economic growth, Alsup said.
She also pointed out that at the end of 2017; the MCC Board of Directors selected the Gambia for a threshold program, saying that this grant program focuses on policy and institutional reform. MCC has already begun engaging with Gambian leaders on needed reforms as the country continues its democratic transition.
“This development recognizes The Gambia as an important partner in West Africa, where MCC already has a strong presence.
She stressed: "My staff and I at the U.S. Embassy in The Gambia are committed to strengthening the partnership between the United States and The Gambia.
"We continue to look for ways that we can assist Gambia’s democratic transition, support its economic growth, and stabilize its security sector. I want all Gambians to benefit from the country’s new freedoms, and will continue working hard every day to advance our countries’ shared priorities."
-0- PANA MSS/VAO 22March2018
her country, just like the Gambia, has a right to determine who stays or visits the US, for how long and under what condition.
“When non-citizens are convicted of crimes in the United States, or when they have overstayed their visas, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department (ICE) is responsible for returning them to their home countries, when ordered to do so by a US immigration judge," she pointed out.
“It is important to remember that the United States is a nation built on respect for the rule of law, and this includes our immigration law,” she said in a statement made available PANA in Banjul on Thursday.
She further explained that an immigration judge presides over full and fair immigration proceedings for each individual, adding that individuals who have exhausted all their legal options and are found ineligible to remain in the United States are ordered removed to their countries of origin.
She revealed that since 2015, ICE has repatriated Gambians in the United States via commercial and charter flights, including the 36 Gambian deportees returned to the Gambia on a charter flight in early March.
“Conversations between various entities within the United States Government and the Government of The Gambia to repatriate Gambian citizens who are in violation of US laws have been ongoing for over a year with the objective of coordinating lawful repatriations by commercial and/or charter flights as appropriate.
When individuals refuse to return home on a commercial flight, sometimes after causing a disturbance at the airport, ICE Air Operations conducts special charter flights. In accordance with ICE policy, individuals on removal flights are restrained for the duration of the flight for safety reasons," Ambassador Alsup pointed out.
She said ICE personnel take every precaution to ensure the safety and welfare of those in their custody, as well as the crew and other personnel on each removal flight, adding that as with all removal flights, on the March charter medical personnel from the ICE Health Service Corps assessed each individual and determined all were properly fit to travel.
Ambassador Alsup noted that ICE also provided a nutritionally balanced diet, prepared and presented in a sanitary and hygienic food service operation during the flight.
“Well in advance, the United States Government advised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the charter flight that garnered recent attention, and the Gambian government authorized the flight’s landing clearance and arranged for the appropriate personnel to be on hand for its arrival.
Prior to departure from the United States, each deportee has the opportunity to sell or otherwise dispose of his or her personal items in the United States.
"He or she can also sign a power of attorney while in custody to allow a friend or family member to handle his or her affairs if necessary. Deportees are allowed to bring personal items back with them on the flight, subject to a weight restriction," she explained.
She added: “The United States Government does not, however, provide deportees with funds to resettle in their home country. Instead, inThe Gambia, we work closely with the President Adama Barrow administration to strengthen governance, public service delivery, and the economy so that all Gambians, including those returning home, will have the opportunity to thrive.”
She also recalled that in October 2017, the U.S. government funded a capacity-building project for Gambian National Assembly Members to promote good governance, transparency, and the rule of law.
“We are also building the government’s capacity to investigate and prosecute the financial crimes of the previous administration, and are assisting the government with developing a broad framework for security-sector reform. We have provided funding to the International Republican Institute (IRI) to conduct trainings, guided discussions, and awareness campaigns to deepen community understanding of democracy, peaceful co-existence, and conflict mitigation," she revealed.
Ambassador Alsup said her government is working to promote economic development and advance health in The Gambia, revealing that USAID has committed to providing technical assistance on debt management and the U.S. Treasury Department has committed to providing revenue administration assistance to the Ministry of Finance.
She added that USAID is also helping the government evaluate the entire healthcare sector and provide guidance on improving the delivery of health services to all Gambian citizens.
According to her, US President Donald Trump just recently reinstated The Gambia for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), saying that the main benefit of AGOA is that it enhances duty-free access to the U.S. market for certain goods, which allows Gambian producers to sell their products to American consumers.
“African countries participating in AGOA have seen growth in their textile and apparel markets, and are beginning to export new products such as cut flowers, horticultural products, automotive components, and steel," she noted.
The U.S. government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) strives to reduce poverty in developing nations through economic growth, Alsup said.
She also pointed out that at the end of 2017; the MCC Board of Directors selected the Gambia for a threshold program, saying that this grant program focuses on policy and institutional reform. MCC has already begun engaging with Gambian leaders on needed reforms as the country continues its democratic transition.
“This development recognizes The Gambia as an important partner in West Africa, where MCC already has a strong presence.
She stressed: "My staff and I at the U.S. Embassy in The Gambia are committed to strengthening the partnership between the United States and The Gambia.
"We continue to look for ways that we can assist Gambia’s democratic transition, support its economic growth, and stabilize its security sector. I want all Gambians to benefit from the country’s new freedoms, and will continue working hard every day to advance our countries’ shared priorities."
-0- PANA MSS/VAO 22March2018
