U.S. sends back 13 Guyanese over three weeks
THIRTEEN Guyanese were refused entry to the United States and sent back to their homeland, from John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York, over the past three weeks.
But some of them, Malini Prasad, Sandra Persaud, Amanda Lentil, Fiona Ragnauth and Komal Beharry, decided to air their dissatisfaction publicly. Voicing their concerns and expressing outrage, they claimed they have enough valid reasons not to be denied permission to enter.
In an interview with this newspaper, most of them said they secured ten-year visitors’ visas some years ago and have since been travelling to and from, not breaching any rules or regulations pertaining to their stay in that country.
Ragnauth said she has travelled to the U.S. about three times in four years and only on vacation. However, on her last flight out of this country, two weeks ago, she left the Cheddi Jagan International Airport along with a few others, facing no issues in Guyana.
She said, upon reaching JFK airport, she was stopped by immigration officials who put her and others in a room and questioned them about their activities in the U.S.
Uncomfortable place
The group said, apart from being held for nearly five hours, in a very uncomfortable place that was not even fit for animals, they were asked questions about things of which they have no knowledge.
Ragnauth said the immigration authorities said they have reports that she and the others had worked in the U.S. when they were only supposed to be there for vacational purposes.
They are all denying the allegation that they did any such thing but said their passports were confiscated upon arrival at JFK and they were sent back to Guyana on the next available flight.
They were all banned, as well, from visiting the U.S. for the next five years, allegedly, for violating the guidelines for vacationing.
They maintained, though, that they have done nothing wrong and are being wrongfully accused.