Foreign Affairs Minister EP Chet Greene has said that Antigua & Barbuda must begin to think of the impacts that a changing US Immigration policies will have here.
In particular, Greene said that US President Donald Trump may follow through with rhetoric on immigration if re-elected for a second term in office.
“A second term for president DJT could prove worrisome for us, because if the policy that is being advocated follow through, then in a second term you can only assume there would be widespread deportations and that would necessarily impact national budgets, it would change the social fabric of our countries. But its something we would have to deal with because a citizen is a citizen,” Greene said on radio over the weekend.
Earlier this year, the Trump Administration announced plans to reshape the immigrant community.
He announced new regulation is aimed at hundreds of thousands of immigrants who enter the country legally every year and then apply to become permanent residents. Starting in October, the government’s decision will be based on an aggressive wealth test to determine whether those immigrants have the means to support themselves.
Poor immigrants will be denied permanent legal status, also known as a green card, if they are deemed likely to use government benefit programs such as food stamps and subsidised housing. Wealthier immigrants, who are designated as less likely to require public assistance, will be able to obtain a green card.
Officials said the program would not apply to people who already have green cards, to certain members of the military, to refugees and asylum-seekers, or to pregnant women and children.
Greene said “whether they are returned forcibly or they returned voluntarily their return is something that would have to be taken into consideration by the government.”
The foreign minister said in the event of this happening some information could be able before had to help Antigua & Barbuda prepare for who is coming.
“The information would include their back ground and so on so you know what to do.”
“The question more than that is how do we absorb any large number of Antiguans and Barbudans returning home forcibly by another government,” he said.
Greene is also mindful of any domino effect that any drastic change in US policy can have.
“The question also if it starts in the US will it domino into other jurisdictions and so its a real question. We need to fix our minds to, that of preparing ourselves for an exodus or return of Antiguans and Barbudans from North America in particular.”
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RHETORIC OR REALITY OR DECLARATIONS OF INTENT?
By now, large and small, wealthy and impoverished nations shall know that if ‘…United States President Donald Trump’ gets his way, what might be perceived as ‘…Rhetoric’ may very well become ‘…Reality.’
That which has been made very clear to every nation, is that he has been consistent in making ‘…Declarations of Intent.’
So far, the US Courts and some of his advisers have not been consistent in supporting him with some of his apparent ‘…ill-conceived declarations.’
Though that nation is seen as ‘…economically and militarily powerful; …independent and sovereign,’ others of similar status may collectively find ways to engage and exert their influence upon his presidency through meaningful dialogue.
Even so, there might still be good reasons to harbor ‘…economic fears.’
Agree Mr Pompey but not only economic fears. Just this week North Dakota has declared that it will not accept any more immigrants-legal or otherwise. So if Trump wins another term, the true intent of himself and many who support him will come into effect and I can only imagine that it will not be pretty. As for our local politicians, Hon Chet Green and others, who believe that Trump is good for Antigua and Barbuda, their close association with Venezuela and others should worry them to the core. In addition, their seeming desire to win an election at all costs might just land them in either a local cell or in the same cell as Stanford and King.
Obviously, Chet Green does NOT support Donald Trump. Zackie, you must have misread the article. Read it again.
@CErmle I just did, my apologies.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP – NOT A BLUFFER
When a nation’s leader has openly called upon the ‘…World Bank to cease lending money to a nation it is deeply financially indebted,’ it speaks to a leader who cares not if the ‘…Sun rises in the East and sets in the West on Christmas Day.’
Well Zackie, none may harbor illusions that ‘…President Donald Trump is a Bluffer.’
Jail for my friends! Nah!
No accommodation in cell block, whether local or foreign.
Neither with ‘…convicted Ponzi schemers’ or alleged facilitators.
According to news from Dallas the ‘…10-year futile resistance of Leroy King’ has made it difficult for him to be considered for bail.
Long considered a ‘…fugitive from justice,’ he was reportedly denied bail by a Federal Court.
Thus, not even his age prevented Federal authorities from placing him in ‘…hand and foot-cuffs’ on his first appearance.
Better to face the music early and enter into plea deals. By the time one says ‘…Holy Mary,’ it might be all over.
Leroy King’s trial has not yet started. No deals will now be entertained.
He is reportedly facing possible incarceration of ‘…103 years.’
Lessons might be learned from ‘…Leroy Kings’ experiences.
Never allow attorneys to ‘…take away chunks of your financial resource’ in fighting losing Court battles.
Incidentally, alleged ‘…fugitive from Indian Justice Mehul Chosky’ has been allowed to do so.
With the paste and haste, he too may also lose chunks.
Though he may not necessarily run out of money, not sure that time would allow him to fight eternally.
Why are you worried about trump sending back Antiguans to Antigua? With the spread importation of Santo Domingans, Jamaicans, Guyanese and Dominicans what effect does that have on the national budget?
Wait til the Colombians come in..The kings of infiltrating Cocaine to other countries.
Thank you juju beard! You make so much sense. As much foreigners that Antigua let in, they can afford to let in their own if trump sends them back.
I am not worried at all,when Donald J. Trump wins again in 2020.Chet Greene,what are you worried about? Are you worried that some of you(politicians) could be pulled in and be questioned over your finances.By the way if you are the holder of a Diplomatic Passport.You could be held and be questioned by Law Enforcement Agencies.Not all Diplomatic Passport holders have total immunity.Only top Diplomats,their families and Deputies have full immunity.Unlike you leaders who do not protect Antigua and Barbuda.Donald Trump is protecting his Country,the USA.I did not vote for the man.Just wished I had done so.
How could a “BLACK MAN” support a man like Donald Trump? You can’t be serious. Is joke you making, right?
Will Antigua benefit from the USA having a very healthy economy? Donald Trump is a visionary and he is not afraid to call a speared a speared, look at what is happening in Europe with immigrants changing the culture of the country’s they migrate to, English is almost the second language in Florida
why are are worried Chet? I thought we had an economc power house here… i thought we little but we mouth big.. I thought we had economic growth with more growth projected… why are you worried?? If folks are deported then we can surely give them a taste of the economic growth in Antigua…
@ Kendall
Immigrants have changed the culture in Antigua also. Tindale, Kentish and Popeshead street are Spanish speaking and Jamaican respectively. And so what if the culture of Europe is changing? All cultures are in flux, Europe spent the last two centuries invading countries and ‘reengineering ‘ the culture. You speaking English and a Senegalese speaking French is a testament to that fact.
The Europeans invades the Americas and wiped out the Native American cultures and now they are whining that their culture is being changed. Boo boo.
I don’t blame Trump the US is being over-run with immigrants and they are adding no value only taking so if he wants to correct that Kudos to him! We here need to adopt that same said policy to regulate our population
EXACTLY HOW MANY MORE …TRUMP IS AND HAS BEEN DOING WHAT ANY GOOD GOVERNERANCE SHOULD DO…..PROTECT ITS COUNTRY COUNTRYMEN AT ALL COSTS ….ALLLLLL COST
IF YOUR NOT HERE TO UPLIFT THE COUNTRY FINANCIALLY EDUCATIONALLY…. MOVE UR RASS ….CANT ADD MORE VALUE TO YOUR COUNTRY WE DNT NEED YOU OR MORE ….VULTURES …LEACHES…VAMPIRES ALL THEY DO IS DRAINNNNN…
I APPLAUDED TRUMP AND I WILL VOTE FOR HIM AGAIN…
TRUMP LOVES HIS COUNTRY ENUFF OF THE FINANCIAL BLEEDINGS OF USELESS COUNTRIES…
ANTIGUANS TARK MORE BOUT TRUMP THAN AMERICANS TRUMP DOGS EAT BETTER THAN MOST …TRUMP DNT EVEN KNOW OR CARE ABOUT ANY ISLANDS UNTIL THEY RUSHING TO TAKE PIKS OR GET A HANDSHAKE AT THE UN.
ANTIGUA HAS BECOME A SOCIALIST ISLAND INSTEAD OF CAPITALISTS ISLAND ….ITS KILLING THE SMALL ISLANDS…GO BACK TO YOUR ISLANDS THAT ARE SO HUGE AND USELESS …
ONLY IN ANTIGUA WE TAKE FOREIGNERS AND GIVE MORE ASSISTANCE TOO ….
You know antigua is a sad place to be when the HAITIANS are now residents….
Whereis the good governance?
ANTIGUANS AT ELECTIONS CAN BE BOUGHT SO AS LONG AS THEY CAN PUSH A CHANGE IN YOUR HAND THAT NEVER LAST. THE POOR WILL STAY POOR THE RICH STAYS RICHER…what is the island becoming? The haves and the havenots..
THE BEST THING A POOR MAN CAN DO IS FEED/ EDUCATE HIS CHILDREN look at the PUBLIC Education System… if you dnt have money to educate then its an illiterate society we have….
Look how ANTIGUA has lost its pride lost its gleam …jus lost
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