Guyana examining new US immigration policies
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Guyana has been discussing the possible effects of the new immigration policies of the Donald Trump administration in the United States.
Director of the Foreign Service Institute here, Ambassador Ronald Austin, said that recent decisions on immigration by President Trump, “will have an immediate impact on our lives.
“We have to, I think first of all, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and I think throughout the Government of Guyana, decide how we respond to the emergence of President Trump and the consequences of his policies,” Austin said.
“This is not abstract foreign policy, this is direct consequences of a man who has decided to change the way the United States sees the world, and in particular as far as the immigrant population is concerned in the United States.”
Last week, the US Department of Homeland Security revealed plans for the enforcement of immigration laws that have been deemed aggressive and discriminatory against Muslims.
In addition, the new policies expand the Federal government’s ability to empower state and local law enforcement agencies to perform the functions of immigration officers.
US President Trump is likely to sign a new immigration executive order on Wednesday, a day after addressing lawmakers at a joint session of Congress.
A government statement noted that the vice chancellor and principal of the University of Guyana, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, made a presentation to the staff of the Foreign Service Institute titled: ‘The emerging Trump Administration Foreign Policy and dynamics related to Guyana and the Caribbean’.
Caribbean Community leaders at their recently concluded intersessional summit here, said that they were still anticipating continued good relationship with Washington under the Trump administration.