Judge orders release of Venezuelan minors, mothers from heliport

A High Court judge has ordered the release of ten Venezuelan children and their mothers who were being held at the State’s quarantine detention facility at the heliport in Chaguaramas.

On Tuesday, Justice Joan Charles ordered the release of the group of children and four mothers.

Separate applications were filed for the group before arrangements could be made for their repatriation.

According to their application, filed by attorneys Criston J Williams and Jerome Riley, the Immigration Division cannot deport or put children on detention orders. Also, the attorneys argued that the immigration law was silent on refugees.

Over 200 Venezuelans are detained at the heliport.

In September, 93 Venezuelans who had been housed at the heliport and the Immigration Detention Centre in Aripo were put on two Coast Guard vessels and taken to Soldado Rock, a small island off the coast of Icacos, near the TT/Venezuela maritime border.

They were handed over to Venezuela’s Guardia Nacional.

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"Judge orders release of Venezuelan minors, mothers from heliport"

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