As the Trump Administration buckles down to execute its programme to deport “undocumented” migrants, they’re roiling some countries whence the migrants had come – and back into which they’d be returned. Mexico is the wildcard in all of this, since folks from all over the world had trekked to its Rio Grande border with the US to make their “illegal entry”. So, it was with some relief after some arm-twisting, their president agreed to not only accept Mexicans – even from Military Planes to which she had originally baulked – but some others. Presumably those who crossed from Mexican soil.
We know that Colombia’s Petro tried to hold out – but soon caved in to the massive economic and diplomatic pressures that landed on his country. It was clearly a message to other countries who might also baulk. It’s gonna be interesting to see what Brazil’s Lula will do going forward since he’d already signalled he wasn’t comfortable with the Brazilian deportees being manacled and “not treated with dignity”. None of you, Dear Reader, needs to be reminded that we got a fair bit of Guyanese who’ll also be sent home – especially from Brooklyn and Queens. Good for us – knowing where the breeze would be blowing from – VP Jagdeo had early on announced we’d have no problem taking back “we own” people. If we can do it for so many immigrants from Venezuela, how could we diss our own?
So, it was quite pleasing to read that Secty of State Mark Rubio personally called Pres Ali to give him a heads-up of what’s coming down the pike for us. He didn’t do that with even Lula!! So it signals that, small as we are, we’re on the American radar. His spokesperson Tammy Bruce issued this statement summarising the call: “Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali spoke today to address the crisis of illegal migration and agreed to jointly address this regional imperative and challenge.” Clearly then the deportation of Guyanese was highlighted so we can’t say we were blindsided.
But the statement went on to give us something BIG for our cooperation on the deportation issue: “The Secretary affirmed the United States’ steadfast support of Guyana’s territorial integrity in the face of Nicolás Maduro and his cronies’ bellicose actions.” That’s right, baby …”Maduro and his cronies’ bellicose actions”!! Using the shady word “cronies” tells us how the US sees Mad Maduro’s illegal occupancy in office in Venezuela – and his hybrid war against us ever since Exxon struck oil off our coast!!
But with migration in the air, it’s NOT xenophobic to heed Trump’s warning that Maduro might infiltrate Venezuelan migrants with criminals like Tren de Aragua gangsters.
Let’s start screening!!
…pressure on Maduro’s criminals
Now that Rubio has directly fired the (hopefully) first salvo at “Mad Maduro and his cronies” on the border controversy, we have to support the Trump Administration to start shipping back the members of Tren de Aragua, one of Venezuela’s most violent criminal organisations. This gang – which traces its origins to Venezuelan prisons, has advanced throughout Latin America with the Maduro regime’s consent, terrorising Chile, Colombia, and Peru with kidnappings, murders, sexual exploitation, and torture.
They’ve expanded their influence into the US, which, therefore, compromises not only regional stability and security but that of the entire hemisphere. Their influence has led Mexican authorities to strengthen alliances with international partners to contain this growing threat. We must reconsider the configuration of criminal networks, the direct impact on our local communities, as the migrants from Venezuela continue to pour across our porous border.
We must organise Caricom to also take on this potential threat before we develop into a Caribbean-wide Haiti where gangs rule the roost.
…the rhetoric
Now that we’re at the halfway mark in the Budget Debate, we should use the presentations to identify leaders who might pop up for the upcoming elections.
Seems like new PNC leadership coming out of Linden!!
