Dear Editor,

Prior to Donald John Trump’s election and since he took office as the United States’ 45th president, there have been a lot of demonstrations and rhetoric about some of his policies, especially immigration-related matters that resulted in so many foreigners getting expelled from the country.

I strongly believe that after a while he will wind down, take meaningful advice from the experts, thus becoming a president with understanding as it relates to a number of key issues.

Regarding immigration matters that resulted in some Jamaicans getting expelled because of criminal convictions, or because they are living in the US illegally, President Trump’s Administration is currently enforcing US immigration laws that have been around for over 20 years.

Two US immigration statutes are responsible for the massive removals/deportations over the years. They are the Anti-Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) which was passed on April 24, 1996 and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) passed on September 30, 1996.

Former US President William “Bill’ Clinton signed them into law and, based on the interpretations and methods of enforcement, these immigration statutes resulted in millions of foreigners getting expelled, while some are excluded based on foreign convictions.

The US Supreme Court was consulted and ruled in favour of certain immigrants in the landmark case INS vs St Cyr. The attorney general was obligated to adjust the Federal Register in order to accommodate the ruling from the High Court. And so, while President Trump’s Administration might take a more aggressive approach to removing foreigners who violate immigration laws, he is not to be blamed for the effects of the AEDPA nor the IIRIRA, and he should not be faulted for trying to make ‘America Great Again’, as he has promised.

Although a number of Jamaicans have different views as it relates to a number of his policies, and even though I am a black man, I support some of his policies because I understand what he is doing that might bring great results in the long run. So the advice to my fellow Jamaicans is that, even though it appears as if it has been broken, they should try and understand US immigration policies, because Congress or the federal government will not allow a sitting president to act in ways that are unconstitutional.

Charlie Brown

charliebrown1004@gmail.com