Young: Political mischief over illegal immigrants

In this July file photo a Lacourt company ship took Venezuelans back to their country. - Grevic Alvarado
In this July file photo a Lacourt company ship took Venezuelans back to their country. - Grevic Alvarado

MINISTER of National Security Stuart Young said there is political mischief over the deportation of Venezuelan children on Sunday.

During a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon, Young said there has been a constant narrative in the political arena about porous borders, whereas the government, through law enforcement, is doing all it can to protect people in Trinidad and Tobago and keep the borders closed.

He said he is constantly asked about border protection, but when it is done, as was the case on Sunday, the Government is accused of being inhumane.

Rather, he insisted, “We are entitled to protect our citizens and that is what we have been doing. They (Venezuelans) have come in without a visa they have come in without permission of the National Security Minister. We are entitled to protect our citizens and our legal residents and that is what we have been doing.”

He said escorting people back across the borders who sought to enter illegally is border protection, as there is one law for all.

He said the government will not allow people to disregard the laws of TT.

He reminded the country of the upsurge in covid19 cases in August from sporadic to community spread and the question of whether illegal immigrants caused it.

Young added, "We have been tackling human trafficking for some time now.”

He said there are law enforcement officers involved and those responsible are able to tell attorneys abpout people who have been arrested for illegal entry

“How are lawyers getting the information in those instances? Who is providing the information to these attorneys? These people are in police custody and can’t speak English but are giving instructions. These are questions that need to be answered.”

He said there are children in state protective custody as a result of the human trafficking rings being disrupted

Comments

"Young: Political mischief over illegal immigrants"

More in this section