Hardt: ‘Majority of expelled socialised in Caribbean’

The notion that criminal deportees from the United States to the Caribbean had been socialized in USA has been refuted by US Charge d’Affaires for Barbados and the OECS, Brent Hardt.{{more}}

According to Hardt, who touched on a number of immigration issues in an exclusive interview with SEARCHLIGHT on June 23, the vast majority of persons deported from the United States arrived in that country after the age of 20 years old, which is past the socialization stage.

“There have actually been studies of this, and what has been found is that the average age which someone who ended up being deported arrived in the US is 23, Hardt stated.

“We often hear that most of these people arrive in the States as babies and young kids. In fact less than three per cent of those who were deported arrive before the age of five years old, 20 percent arrive in the period of 16 to 20 years old.”

“In terms of when people are deported, the average age is 35, but the vast majority were raised and socialized in the Caribbean before they get to the United States.”

Hardt said that although this study was conducted from the mid 1990s to early 2003 concerning Jamaicans, it would be safe to say that this has been the trend for other countries over the years.

With regard to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, an average of about 28 to 30 Vincentians have been sent back to these shores yearly since 2002.

According to Hardt, about two thirds of these deportees were returned for criminal activities, most of which are non-violent offences.

These crimes range from the possession and sale of drugs, obstruction of the judiciary, larceny, trespassing, making false reports and traffic offences.

He said about 20 percent of the crimes include robbery, homicide and sexual assaults.

“So the image that a lot of violent criminals are being sent back doesn’t really jibe with the reality… there are not necessarily terrible offences.”

When asked the reason for deportation of criminals as opposed to rehabilitation and monitoring of the offenders, Hardt said that the United States intends to maintain an open immigration policy, where immigrants are free to go to the United States, but will be removed if they fail to obey the laws of the land.

“If you look at it from an American perspective, we give people an opportunity. They come here and if they follow the law, they can become millionaires. But if you run afoul of the law, you forfeit the opportunity to stay in the US, and I think this is no different from any country.

“The big piece about the deportation discussion that has been missing is that deportation is a part of an open immigration policy that we have, and I think we’re just missing the big picture that we have on deportees without looking at the number of immigrants who come from different countries.”

The Charge d’Affaires said that annually, more than 80 percent of Vincentians who apply are issued non immigrant visas, and over 95 are granted immigrant status in the United States.

He indicated that about ten percent of those issued visas fail to take advantage of the opportunity to become “fine, upstanding citizens” and in the process are returned to their home country.

Hardt says that the deportation process is part of the open border system which offers a lot of benefits to immigrants, who are always welcome to the United States.

“That flow of people and ideas and exchange between the countries is really vital,” Hardt stated.

“I strongly encourage young Vincentians who are able to study in the United States to take advantage of our colleges and universities in that particular area… I know there are a lot of family ties and certainly hope that people can visit family and see a good part of our country and I hope people continue to apply… I think 80 percent (visa approval) in any country in the world is one of the higher rates that you will find.”