‘Worst of the worst’

Eighty-four Jamaicans are among hundreds of “criminal aliens”, described by United States (US) authorities as the “worst of the worst”, who were arrested across several American states last weekend as part of the mass deportation policy of US President Donald Trump.

The 77 men and seven women had convictions in 24 states for crimes ranging from homicides to weapons and drug possession as well as sex-related offences, some involving minors, according to data released by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday.

Assistant Secretary at the DHS Tricia McLaughlin confirmed that more arrests were made on Monday, but it is unclear if any Jamaicans were among them.

The list also includes 73 citizens of Haiti; nine Guyanese; seven citizens of Trinidad & Tobago; four from St Lucia; two from St Kitts-Nevis; two from Antigua and Barbuda, and one Barbadian.

The DHS, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, and a senior US official also signalled that the Jamaicans, along with hundreds of “criminal aliens” from 169 other countries, could face deportation proceedings.

“Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, the hard-working men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promised and are carrying out mass deportations, starting with the worst of the worst, including the illegal aliens you see here,” said a message posted above the database, making reference to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Any person who is in the US illegally – particularly those arrested for committing crimes – is subject to removal, the American official explained.

“Some of them, their only crime is that they have overstayed [their time in the US]; others have committed more serious crimes. But just the fact that you are in the United States beyond your visa, that you are there in an undocumented status; that is a criminal act,” the official said.

A breakdown of the data released by the DHS shows that the 84 Jamaicans apprehended last weekend had between them 34 convictions for drug-related crimes; 20 convictions for assault with and without a gun; 15 convictions for weapon possession; 10 homicide convictions, including one with a motor vehicle; and nine convictions for sex-related crimes, five of which included a minor.

There were also six convictions for fraud; five for resisting a police officer; two each for burglary and domestic violence; and one each for shoplifting, kidnapping, identity theft and exploitation of a minor.

Twenty-four of the convictions were recorded in the state of Florida, followed by New York with 13, New Jersey with eight, and Pennsylvania with five.

Among the 84 Jamaicans apprehended was a man who the DHS said was convicted in New York for possession of a weapon and possession of cocaine with intent to sell, while another man was convicted for molesting a minor.

One of the women was convicted for battery, lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, and failure to register as a sex offender.

The DHS database did not disclose the dates of the convictions or details of the crimes.

The DHS said that, since January 20 this year, 2.5 million illegal aliens have left the US. This figure includes 605,000 removals and 1.9 people who self-deported.

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com