The Editor, Sir:

One of the main drawbacks to successful resettlement and positive contribution is the stigmatisation and marginalisation of deportees. This is an impediment to the reorientation process, and the Government should do more to raise the expectation of their own 'natives'.

In some instances, people have returned with graduate degrees. Some are engineers and architects with First World 'useful' experience, and want to assist positively in the development of Jamaica. As it relates to concerns about past and impending deportee population, the United States Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) has admitted that some people are being deported illegally or accidentally, but did not state under what circumstances. A more 'frightening' revelation is the announcement that

it lacks the jurisdiction to entertain any case once an individual has been physically removed to his/her native country.

Based on the enactment of U.S. Immigration IIRIRA Act of (1996), which is retroactive, many foreign nationals are being deported for simple offences, and a removal carries 'harsh consequences'. There is a case where one Jamaican national who is also a veteran of the U.S. army with a service-connected disability was deported accidentally by U.S. Immigration, based on an unlawful conviction which occurred in the County Court. In many cases, the INS acts upon the conviction record of a foreign national, and then deports him/her, leaving everything behind.

I am, etc.,

CHARLES BROWN

charleibrown1004@hotmail.com

Disabled U.S. military veteran

Morant Bay, St. Thomas