Over the past several days, I have read with concern some of the stories about Gambian deportees returning from the United States. I would like to clear up some misunderstandings and provide more information about this process, and about the important partnership between the United States and The Gambia.
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. Just as The Gambia has the right to determine who may or may not stay in The Gambia, the United States also determines who is allowed to visit the United States, for how long, and under what conditions.
When non-citizens are convicted of crimes in the United States, or when they have overstayed their allowed time in the country, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department (ICE) is responsible for returning them to their home countries, when ordered to do so by a U.S. immigration judge. 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.
An immigration judge presides over full and fair immigration proceedings for each individual. Individuals who have exhausted all their legal options and are found ineligible to remain in the United States are ordered removed to their country of origin. Conversations between various entities within the United States Government and the Government of The Gambia to repatriate Gambian citizens who are in violation of U.S. 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.
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. 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. 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. The United States Government does not, however, provide deportees with funds to resettle in their home country. Instead, in The Gambia we work closely with the 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.
For example, in October, 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.
We are also working to promote economic development and advance health in The Gambia. 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. USAID is also helping the government evaluate the entire health care sector and provide guidance on improving the delivery of health services to all Gambian citizens.
President Trump just recently reinstated The Gambia for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). 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.
The U.S. government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) strives to reduce poverty in developing nations through economic growth. At the end of 2017, The MCC Board of Directors selected The Gambia for a threshold program. 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.
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 The 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.
By Patricia Alsup, US Ambassador to the Gambia
Why do you keep them for so. many hours. Does that smacks the impulses of slavery. If you chain a U.S. citizens like thatm yiu would bully the whole countrym
Why do you keep them for so many hours in chainsm. Does that not smacks the impulses of slavery. If we chain a U.S. citizens like that you would bully the whole country.
Most Gambians that left our shores during the dark period of Yahya Jammeh can rightly be considered political refugees deserving of protection from persecution from The former dictator and his armed thugs. The US like Gambia has its laws that all visitors are required to obey and respect. It is common knowledge that most Gambians being returned are folks convicted of crimes, accused of dealings drugs and generally constituting themselves a nuisance in the host country. Some are law abiding citizens that have simply overstayed their time. The law mandate that all must have their day in front of a judge, the reality is that the average case as been in the courts for months if not years. Most returnees are aware of the possibility of being deported and had opportunity to put their affairs in order. No Gambian was ever placed in chains as shown on social media. No Gambian was returned without the opportunity to dispose of personal property or to appoint a surrogate to do so.
Ambassador Alsup is a friend of The Gambia. I believe the Trump administration is using a very aggressive tactic that was not allowed in prior administration. The decisions to deport are made Stateside with the approval of The Gambia government who chose to accept their citizens as they should. This administration is a responsible and a responsive government when it comes to issue of returnees. Finally the genesis of this problem should not be displaced on the host, the idiot that ruined our country, tried to kill all of us and made us all run for cover is the person we should be chastising. God knows the man deserves a lot worse.
Isatou Sarr,
It’s better you say those deportees who were unceremoniously flushed out to the DARK days of Adama Barrow will be political refugees in their own land.
They used the President Jammeh era to LIE and VILIFY and attained their personal desires, right. Inspite of all that, President Jammeh, the TRUE SON and PATRIOT of our people refused to bow down to the West for the deportation of his people. Won’t you hail him for that bold stance against imperialist lynching of a sovereign country/president? For he forfeited the privileges of acquiring visas to travel to their countries. Nonetheless, he sought the interests of his people before foreign interests.
On the other side of the coin, your USELESS administration with its clique of CORRUPT, CORRUPTIBLE, TRIBALIST, INEFFICIENT people would bow/succumb to imperialist pressures, receive their chicken change, to hammer hard on their own people. Wouldn’t these deportees be interested in earning the equivalent of your lucrative income (as you stated to Lamin Darboe) in order to ameliorate their living and the living of their families?
Why dare you LIE about the chaining of our people and the harsh moments they endured? Didn’t you hear the testimonies of the deportees on GRTS? I bet you say that loud in the Serrekunda market, with that imperialist and reactionary tone and see what would become of you. STOP incensing the frustation, anger, disappointed of the deportees and their families!
Did you miss it Babu? Here’s part of what the ambassador said: ” Since 2015, ICE has repatriated Gambians in the United States via commercial and charter flights, ….”
Deportations happened under the Jammeh regime, unless you want to accuse the ambassador of lying.
Babu, here you go again. As I told you before, I am not one of those crying, timid, long suffering Gambian women you are used to abusing during your days with your mentor. Jammeh.
For that veiled threat in Serrekunda, I can assure you that, not only will I spank you with a felt pen. I am quite capable of whooping your fat…. a with my fist when and if you dare show your ugly face in Serrekunda market.