Twenty-one Trinidad and Tobago nationals deported from the United States were expected to arrive at Piarco International Airport on Friday morning.
During Thursday’s Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge informed members of the public that Trinidad and Tobago is set to receive 21 deportees from the United States of America for various reasons ranging from immigration violations to criminal offences.
He said following meetings with Vision on Mission (VOM), the Ministry decided to engage various State Agencies.
“We decided to invite three stakeholders, namely the Chief of Defence Staff, the SIU Head, Superintendent Edwards, and the Chief Immigration Officer, with a view to ensuring the debriefing and transition goes smoothly.”
Minister Sturge highlighted that in the past, the US authorities would provide what they term a ‘care package,’ providing a comprehensive brief with respect to each person being deported. He indicated that attempts by State Agencies were unsuccessful.
“We’ve asked the CDS and the Perm Sec to reach out to our US counterparts with a view to having them swabbed for DNA, to have them fingerprinted, and to have a fuller brief prepared so we know in advance what to anticipate, and if we had fingerprinting done, we would know in advance if they are persons with outstanding warrants and so on.”
He said the government has also taken steps to ensure the deportees are swabbed, fingerprinted, and interviewed by members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service on arrival.
He indicated that there are persons who were deported for immigration violations and will not be subjected to such scrutiny.
“We understand that one person would be homicide, there are three sexual persons who committed sexual offences, two of them offences against children, so in essence, paedophiles, and one person who was engaged in human trafficking. These are persons we have an interest in.”
Minister Sturge added that after discussions they have concluded that persons involved in sexual offences will be registered in Trinidad and Tobago, therefore allowing the TTPS to monitor these individuals.