As Donald Trumpeto prepares for his second term as U.S. president, one of his freshly baked and utterly bewildering immigration proposals feels like a direct “eye pass” to the Caribbean, as we’d say in Guyana. Indeed, Trumpeto’s latest scheme is as if he spun a globe, closed his eyes, and randomly picked destinations for his mass deportation plan — minus any thought for countries and their sovereignty.
NBC News reports suggest that Trump’s administration is considering nations like the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Grenada, and Panama as convenient drop-off points for deportees whose home countries refuse to accept them. Yet the Bahamas, like a stern parent catching a child mid-shenanigan, has already said, “Not today, and not ever.”
Prime Minister Philip Davis of the Bahamas minced no words, declaring his nation simply does not have the resources to accommodate such a ludicrous influx. Frankly, calling the plan untenable is putting it mildly — it’s a proposal so preposterous that it could cause a Jamaican to exclaim, “Wha de … clat?”
The Trumpeto playbook: Recycled Controversy edition
This isn’t Trumpeto’s first time at the rodeo of controversial immigration policies. During his first term, he orchestrated a similarly ill-advised plan to deport immigrants to Guatemala — a scheme halted only by a combination of legal challenges and the pandemic. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), perpetually poised with a legal counterpunch, has already vowed to challenge any attempts to roll out a mass deportation plan again.
Despite the backlash, Trumpeto trudges forward, pitching these policies as necessary for national security while threatening economic sanctions against countries that refuse to comply. It’s a diplomatic strategy that feels like trying to charm your neighbor with a hammer.
The Caribbean is not your dumping ground
The suggestion of offloading deportees to Caribbean nations shows a staggering disregard for the region’s realities. These are nations often grappling with economic constraints, the ongoing impacts of climate change, and rebuilding from natural disasters. Adding deportees into the mix — many of whom have no ties to the region — would create a ripple effect of resource strain and social disruption. We have already been down this road, largely thanks to the draconian Bill Clinton policies.
Déjà vu, but worse
This proposal smacks of the UK’s infamous Rwanda asylum-seeker plan, which was ultimately declared unlawful. Policies like these might play well with certain voter bases, but they’re often in blatant violation of international law and leave vulnerable individuals in perilous situations.
And let’s not forget: Alienating Caribbean and Latin American neighbors jeopardizes vital cooperation on issues like drug trafficking, climate action, and regional stability. These are relationships that require nurturing, not bulldozing.
The Caribbean’s response needs to be: Not today, Satan
The Caribbean is a region of resilience and cultural brilliance, not a pawn in geopolitical games. Leaders like Davis have shown the kind of backbone that demands applause for standing firm against any attempts to use their nations as holding cells for misguided policies.
As for Trumpeto? He would do well to put down the Sharpie, reconsider this policy, and perhaps — just perhaps — start seeing the Caribbean not as a convenient receptacle for his political leftovers, but as a region deserving respect, dignity, and partnership. Trump’s administration must recognize these realities and abandon policies that dehumanize immigrants and disrespect international partners. For Caribbean nations and their allies, now is the time to stand united and demand that any U.S. administration engage with them as equals, not as expendable players in domestic political agendas.
To put it plainly, the Caribbean is not here for your foolishness. Not today, Satan; not today and not ever!
Felicia J. Persaud is the publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com, a daily news outlet focused on positive news about Black immigrant communities from the Caribbean and Latin America.
While I am not disputing the content of the articles, calling people outside of their names detracts from the factual information. It does not add to the information. It actually detracts from what is purporting to be serious reporting.