Dear Editor,
As a mother raising children in Antigua and Barbuda, I have followed with growing concern reports that the United States is seeking to send deportees to Caribbean countries, including our own. According to Antigua News Room, which published this letter, such concerns are being voiced at the community level as the deportation question continues to generate public debate.
I wish to state plainly: one deportee is one too many.
Our nation is small. We are already struggling with crime, limited law enforcement resources, and social challenges that affect families every day. Parents worry about their children's safety when they walk to school, wait for a bus, or spend time with friends. We should not be asked to take on additional risks created by the immigration policies of a much larger country.
I commend Prime Minister Gaston Browne for resisting pressure and insisting on safeguards. In fact, I believe he should go even further. No amount of money can compensate for the consequences if even one dangerous individual slips through the cracks.
We are repeatedly told that those being sent are not criminals. Yet we are also told that background checks are still being negotiated. That contradiction alone should concern every citizen. If there is any uncertainty about who these individuals are, where they come from, or what their history may be, then Antigua and Barbuda should not participate.
The United States has every right to enforce its immigration laws. What it does not have is the right to expect small Caribbean nations to absorb the burden of its deportation programme.
Our government's first responsibility is to the people of Antigua and Barbuda — to our children, our elderly, our communities, and our future. We cannot afford to make decisions that may compromise public safety simply because a larger nation is exerting pressure.
I urge the Prime Minister to remain firm. Do not accept 10 deportees. Do not accept one. The risks outweigh any potential benefits.
As a mother, I want my children to grow up in a safe and secure country. That must remain our priority above all else.
Concerned Mother St. John's
