Trinidad deports 160 Venezuelans

The Trinidad and Tobago government has deported 160 Venezuelans who had illegally entered the island. Trinidad has seen a huge influx of Venezuelans in recent months which has become a huge social and political issue there. Many Venezuelans are moving there in search of a better life but their increasing numbers is creating a problem.

Ministry of National Security said that the deportations were carried out in conjunction with the Venezuelan authorities.

National Security Minister Stuart Young said that a group of lawyers made a High Court Judge aware of the presence of some Venezuelans who are in Trinidad and Tobago illegally and their removal was ordered.

Meanwhile, High Court judge, Justice Avason Quinlan-Williams, stopped the immediate deportation of 19 Venezuelan, who media reports said were among a larger group put on a boat awaiting deportation to Caracas.

The judge gave the group permission to file a claim for judicial review and also granted them permission to seek immediate relief, ordering the chief immigration officer to immediately grant the 19 orders of supervision as well as quashing any order of deportation pending their applications as asylum seekers.