Washington, DC – A Caribbean American immigration attorney has raised concern over the increasing number of United States visa cancellations being meted out to Bahamians, especially students studying in America as well as the high percentage of visa application denials at the US consulate in Nassau.
The attorney, Donnette Russell-Love raised these issues during the recently held Caribbean American Legislative Week organized by the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) to mark the 10th anniversary of Caribbean American Heritage Month.
Russell-Love, president of the Florida based Immigration Care Services first raised the issue during a session on immigration at the White House briefing and later as part of a panel discussing security issues at a legislative forum on Capitol Hill.
“While we accept that the Caribbean as America’s third border needs to be protected against being used by potential terrorists to gain entry into the US, I’m sure you’ll agree with me that Caribbean nationals, especially Bahamians pose little or no terrorist threat to America. I am therefore requesting that this situation be reviewed,” Russell –Love requested during her intervention at the White House briefing.
A panel of White House officials which included Felicia Escobar, Special Assistant to the President for Immigration policy undertook to look into these issues.
According to Russell-Love the current rate of visa denials compares to that of Japan “a country that was once an enemy of the United States. The Bahamas has always been a friend and ally of America and this situation needs to be addressed,” she said.
Explaining that Bahamians benefit from pre-clearance of US Immigration and Customs in Freeport and Nassau in the Bahamas, Russell-Love argued that US Customs and Border Protection officers stationed there “are abusing their authority” and that Bahamians have no avenues through which to seek any remedies. She said these cancellations “are having an impact on the Bahamian economy since many of our small business owners can’t access the US to purchase needed merchandise.”
The Ambassador of the Bahamas to the United States Dr. Eugene Newry said his office will also further discuss these concerns with the relevant authorities in Washington, DC.
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