“We will not provide a safe haven for those who commit crimes in their home countries,” ICE Official says
NEW YORK – The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says officials from its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) have deported a Guyanese national, who was wanted for murder in his home country.
On Wednesday, ICE said that on March 1, ERO deportation officers escorted Anthony Bhupdeo, 25, “who was removed from the United States via a commercial flight.”
“Bhupdeo was transferred into the custody of Guyanese law enforcement authorities upon arrival in Georgetown (the Guyanese capital),” ICE said.
Thomas Decker, field office director for ERO New York, said the removal of Bhupdeo is “indicative of ERO’s resolve in carrying out the laws of our nation.
“We will not provide a safe haven for those who commit crimes in their home countries,” he said. “For those criminal aliens hiding within our New York communities, our message is clear: it’s not a matter of if we will remove you, it’s a matter of when.”
ICE said that on January 2, 2016, Bhupdeo, entered the United States as a visitor, with authorization to remain in the United States until July 2016.
Later that month, ICE said Guyanese authorities in the East Demerara Magisterial District, issued an arrest warrant for Bhupdeo for murder and shortly after, in February 2016, the US Department of State revoked Bhupdeo’s visa.
“Bhupdeo failed to depart the United States in July 2016, as required,” ICE said.
In September 2016, ICE said the Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) office in Bogota, Colombia, notified ERO New York that Bhupdeo, may be residing in the New York City metropolitan area, and was being sought in Guyana for murder pursuant to an Interpol Red Notice.
In October of that year, ICE said ERO deportation officers arrested Bhupdeo in Woodhaven, Queens, New York, and placed him into removal proceedings and on July 26, 2017, said Bhupdeo was ordered removed by an immigration judge, however, he appealed that decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).
On February 1, 2018, the BIA dismissed his appeal, “paving the way for his removal to Guyana,” ICE said.
The ICE says that since October 1, 2009, IERO has removed more than 1,700 foreign fugitives from the United States, who were sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder.
BACKGROUND:
Bhupdeo is the prime suspect in the New Year’s Day, 2016 fatal beating of Cane Grove cane harvester Deokumar Basdeo, 22, the Stabroek News reported.
Basdeo, called “Buddy” and “Kevin,” of Lot 77 Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara was left on the roadway in Cane Grove after a gang of seven men attacked him as he made his way home from a lime, the newspaper reported.
They dealt him several blows about his body — mostly to the head — with a piece of wood. He was taken to the Mahaicony Hospital before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed hours later, the Stabroek News said.
Basdeo’s wife, Ranjeeta Baig, was reported by the newspaper as saying it was unclear why the men would want to take her husband’s life. She, however, noted that she had learned that Basdeo had earlier in the day been drinking and gambling at a shop near his home and had won a large amount of money.
“I hear he win nuff money and I don’t know if them boy went there playing and see too or they receive information but if you see how them beat he,” Baig was quoted by the Stabroek News as saying.
A post-mortem examination found that he died as a result of brain haemorrhaging.
Other reports indicate that the incident stemmed from Basdeo pelting the vehicle with a hard object.
The Kaieteur News said Basdeo’s sister Amrita Doodnauth and his stepmother watched on helplessly as the men first struck him down with a pick-up truck and then battered him with pieces of wood as he was making his way home. – CMC and other sources.