Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo stated that protests concerning the arrest of activist Melissa Atwell should be aimed at the U.S. government, as immigration policies are beyond Guyana’s control. He dismissed claims of PPP influence over U.S. actions, asserting that the decision regarding Atwell’s status rests solely with U.S. authorities. Atwell is set to appear before a U.S. judge on March 28.
Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo emphasized that the protests regarding the detention of social media activist Melissa Atwell should be directed at the U.S. government, not the Guyanese government. Addressing the protests that took place at the Square of the Revolution, he reiterated that any immigration issues fall under U.S. jurisdiction and not that of the PPP administration.
Dr. Jagdeo stated that claims of government influence over U.S. immigration policies concerning Atwell are misplaced and promoted by anti-PPP factions. He urged the opposition to focus their criticisms directly on former President Trump’s policies instead of implicating the Guyanese government.
He affirmed that the decision regarding Atwell’s status as either a resident in the U.S. or a returnee to Guyana purely lies with the U.S. authorities. “If she stays there, we wish her well. If she comes home, she is welcomed as a Guyanese citizen,” he noted. Additionally, he reiterated that the Guyanese government holds no power over Atwell’s statements in either location.
On the matter of U.S. immigration policy, Dr. Jagdeo highlighted that detentions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are typically immigration-related. He acknowledged Atwell’s claim of U.S. citizenship, stating that if it is accurate, it could complicate her situation, though it is not without precedent. As it stands, she is set to appear before a U.S. Immigration Judge on March 28 after being initially scheduled for June 25, having been detained in Louisiana after her arrest in New York.
Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo’s remarks clarify that the Guyanese government is not responsible for U.S. immigration policies and that protests regarding Melissa Atwell’s detention should target U.S. authorities. The decision on her status rests entirely with the U.S. government, and he praised her potential return or continued residency in the U.S. as a matter of personal circumstance unlinked to the PPP’s influence.
Original Source: newsroom.gy
