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Seventeen of the twenty-one Trinidad and Tobago nationals recently deported from the United States have arrived at Piarco International Airport, authorities confirmed on Sunday.
The group, which includes 15 men and two women, landed around 6:00 a.m. yesterday, according to police sources cited by the Sunday Express. Three of the returnees have since been accommodated at Vision On Mission (VOM), a rehabilitation and reintegration organization, while the remainder are staying with relatives.
In anticipation of their arrival, Minister of National Security Wayne Sturge announced last Thursday that a structured catchment and assistance system had been established at the airport. However, he clarified that the returnees would not all be subject to the same processing protocols.
Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing held at the Attorney General’s Office, Minister Sturge provided details regarding the nature of the deportees’ backgrounds. Among them are three individuals classified as sex offenders, one individual linked to a homicide case, and another reportedly involved in human trafficking. These persons, he said, will be subject to stringent post-arrival monitoring.
“The sex offenders will be placed on the Trinidad and Tobago sex offenders registry for the protection of the society,” Sturge stated.
He also confirmed that three of the deportees did not possess criminal records but were deported for immigration-related infractions. Those without criminal histories, he noted, would not undergo the full reintegration process, which includes biometric data collection such as fingerprinting and swabbing.
This latest repatriation underscores ongoing cooperation between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States on deportation and migration issues. It also highlights the government’s evolving approach to managing returnees, with a focus on public safety, rehabilitation, and differentiated processing based on individuals’ criminal profiles.
Nycaribnews.com
