By Keith Bernard

News Americas, NY, NY: Venezuela stands as the clearest warning of what happens when ideology replaces governance. Caught between neoconservative interventionism and neo-Bolivarian defiance, the country has become less a sovereign state than an ideological battlefield – one its people did not choose.

Hundreds of protesters turned out at the Hands Off Venezuela demonstration in response to the United States of America’s actions in Venezuela on the 5th of January 2026, London, United Kingdom. The US attacked Venezuela on the 3rd of January and captured President Maduro and his wife Celia Flores in a highly controversial military action, which critics have suggested is illegal and in breach of international conventions. (photo by Kristian Buus/In Pictures via Getty Images)

Neoconservatism, as reflected in U.S. policy toward Venezuela, rests on the belief that economic pressure and diplomatic isolation can force democratic change. Years of sanctions and international pressure, however, have failed to dislodge the ruling elite. Instead, they have deepened economic collapse, fueled mass migration, and hardened authoritarian rule. Leverage became punishment, with ordinary Venezuelans paying the price.

The neo-Bolivarian movement, born under Hugo Chávez and sustained by Nicolás Maduro, presented itself as an anti-imperial alternative—one promising sovereignty, equality, and social justice. In practice, it centralized power, dismantled institutions, and reduced accountability. Oil wealth masked mismanagement until it vanished, leaving scarcity, corruption, and repression in its wake. Revolutionary rhetoric became a substitute for policy.

Venezuela exposes the shared flaw of both doctrines. Neo-conservatism assumes coercion produces reform. Neo-Bolivarianism assumes ideology can replace institutions. Both are wrong.

The fallout is regional. Millions of Venezuelans have fled, straining neighbors across Latin America and the Caribbean. Trade has suffered, diplomacy has stalled, and external powers have filled the vacuum left by ideological deadlock.

The lesson is not about choosing the “right” ideology. It is about rejecting ideological certainty altogether. Sustainable democracy is built on credible institutions, economic diversification, political pluralism, and pragmatic engagement—not sanctions alone, and not slogans wrapped in sovereignty.

Venezuela’s crisis is not inevitable. But its warning is unmistakable: when ideology becomes destiny, nations fail – and citizens pay the cost.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Keith Bernard is a Guyanese-born, NYC-based analyst and a frequent contributor to News Americas. 

RELATED: Is Trinidad And Tobago Showing Signs Of A Failing State?

By Felicia J. Persaud

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Friday Jan. 2, 2026: Caribbean immigrants from the Caribbean Community, (CARICOM), are among those listed on the newly released U.S. Department of Homeland Security “Worst of the Worst,” (WOW) list. The list features non-U.S. citizens arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2025 following prior criminal convictions.

In total, some 320 CARICOM nationals appear on the list, with Jamaicans accounting for the largest share at 129, followed by Haitians at 103.

Arrests were overwhelmingly concentrated in Florida, followed by New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, mirroring major Caribbean Diaspora population centers. The most common conviction patterns involved weapons offenses, drug trafficking, violent crimes such as robbery and assault, and fraud-related charges, including identity theft.

If nationals from the Spanish-speaking Caribbean were included, the total would rise sharply to 1,797 individuals. Cubans account for the largest group at 1,152, while nationals from the Dominican Republic total 327, according to DHS records.

Kieron Jonas of Antigua And Barbuda; Joseph Thomas Of The Bahamas; Vince Ellis of Barbados; Ernel Chambers of Dominica; Peter Thomas of Grenada; Trevor Bassue of St. Kitts & Nevis; Stanfield Vitalis of St. Lucia; Aaron Sabal of Belize, Robert Savio Panton of Jamaica; Ronald Doodnauth of Guyana; Nathalie Premier of Haiti and Vijai Dube of Trinidad and Tobago. (Montage from DHS images)

JAMAICA – largest of all CARICOM countries excluding Spanish Caribbean

NameCountryArrested (City)Arrested (State)Convictions (as listed by DHS)Robert Savio PantonJamaicaNew YorkNew YorkConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroinBritney Shenecia JamesJamaicaBrewtonAlabamaMail fraud; ConspiracyDwayne DiasJamaicaWhite DeerPennsylvaniaRobbery; Illegal re-entry (8 USC 1326); Dangerous drugs; Robbery – business (gun)Andre WaltersJamaicaBerlinNew HampshireAggravated assault (non-family weapon); Crimes against person; Possession of weapon; Weapon offense; Weapon traffickingChristopher DixonJamaicaChicagoIllinoisMarijuana – sell; Dangerous drugsAnthony DunkleyJamaicaTampaFloridaMarijuana – possessionConroy Delroy CondecoreJamaicaOrlandoFloridaSex assault; Cruelty toward childFerion SmartJamaicaConwaySouth CarolinaPossession of weaponGeovanie BurkeJamaicaSeviervilleTennesseeAssaultLynroy GayleJamaicaSan BernardinoCaliforniaMoney launderingKevin DuhaneyJamaicaAldenNew YorkAssault; Weapon offense; Possession of weaponOrville WeirJamaicaFort LauderdaleFloridaLewd or lascivious acts with minor; Marijuana – possessionVincent MitchellJamaicaLake CityFloridaBattery; Sex offenseBrandon WoolleryJamaicaChipleyFloridaHomicideNorman Alexander MooreJamaicaFort DixNew JerseyDrug trafficking; Illegal re-entry (8 USC 1326); Marijuana – sell; Dangerous drugsEverton HibbertJamaicaAldenNew YorkHomicide; Weapon offenseAkeem FosterJamaicaJamestownNorth DakotaAggravated assault (non-family weapon); Synthetic narcotic – possession; LarcenyRomualdo HenryJamaicaFlorenceArizonaShoplifting; Dangerous drugsTristan CampbellJamaicaPanama CityFloridaFraud; Illegal use of credit cardsAndre DweyerJamaicaEast ElmhurstNew YorkAssault; Hit and runKemar ParkesJamaicaFairhavenMassachusettsDomestic violenceJohnoi BenjaminJamaicaFort LauderdaleFloridaDrug trafficking; Dangerous drugsRoshawn ColeyJamaicaSeviervilleTennesseeBurglaryGemena GopieJamaicaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaPossession stolen propertyKevon FergusonJamaicaPanama CityFloridaSex assault; Public order crimes; Cocaine – possessionKirk AlfordJamaicaPine BushNew YorkKidnappingNigel BucknorJamaicaMaltaNew YorkPossession of weapon; Dangerous drugs; Cocaine – possession; Cocaine – sellOrville SalmonJamaicaFort George G. MeadeMarylandCarrying concealed weapon; Possession of weapon; Cocaine – possessionEverton MinottJamaicaAtlantaGeorgiaWeapon offense; Cocaine – possession; Identity theft (70AA)Kevin GarrisonJamaicaFort DixNew JerseyCocaine – sell; Dangerous drugs; CocaineAndrew BrownJamaicaBlanchNorth CarolinaDrug trafficking; Drug possession; Cocaine – smuggle/possess/sell; Marijuana – sell/possess; Failure report crimeGarfield CoxJamaicaButnerNorth CarolinaMarijuana – smuggleRomario AndersonJamaicaPanama CityFloridaExploitation of a minor; Obscene communicationSophia SmithJamaicaBruceton MillsWest VirginiaFraudDaffton BloomfieldJamaicaKearnyNew JerseyAggravated assault (weapon); Larceny; Robbery; Possession of weaponLeonard LutonJamaicaOxfordWisconsinMail fraudLova Stewart-JonesJamaicaBirminghamAlabamaCocaine – sell; Contempt of courtShannovan FaceyJamaicaChesterfieldVirginiaPossession of weapon; Marijuana – sellCory GentleJamaicaMiramarFloridaAggravated assault (weapon); BatteryElroy SmithJamaicaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaSex offense against child (fondling); Molestation of minorJudiel WilliamsJamaicaNaplesFloridaResisting officerRondell LevyJamaicaWhite DeerPennsylvaniaFraudDonavan SmithJamaicaMiamiFloridaRobbery; Cocaine – smuggleRayon SamuelsJamaicaMiamiFloridaHomicide; Robbery (street-gun); Burglary; Robbery (residence-gun)Caston BrownJamaicaNorth CharlestonSouth CarolinaHomicide; Possession of weaponDadrique MontequeJamaicaWilmingtonDelawareRobbery; Receive stolen propertyEldin GayleJamaicaBridgetonNew JerseySex offender registration violation; Family offense; Cruelty toward child; Failure to registerPaul Clement MelvilleJamaicaTucsonArizonaAssault; Aggravated assault (weapon); Robbery (residence-gun)Zedike WatsonJamaicaTampaFloridaFailure to register as sex offender; Battery; Lewd/lascivious acts with minorColleen WilsonJamaicaClintonNew JerseyAggravated assault (family-weapon); Marijuana – sell; Illegal re-entry (8 USC 1326); MarijuanaAdrian MorrisonJamaicaChicagoIllinoisRape (strongarm); Sex assault; Aggravated assault (weapon)Hubert DownerJamaicaFort DixNew JerseyHomicide; Possession of weapon; Dangerous drugs; Cocaine – possessionRicardo DoddJamaicaSumtervilleFloridaDrug trafficking; Drug possession; Dangerous drugsPaul SmithJamaicaClaytonAlabamaHomicide; Aggravated assault (non-family strongarm); Marijuana – sellPeter WilkinsonJamaicaFort PierceFloridaHomicide (willful kill-weapon); Robbery; HomicideJunior ReidJamaicaEast ElmhurstNew YorkPossession of weaponKimani BeckfordJamaicaGoshenNew YorkDangerous drugsDerrick BrownJamaicaMarcyNew YorkMarijuana – possessionAndre HamiltonJamaicaAllenwoodPennsylvaniaCarrying prohibited weapon; Resisting officer; CocaineKemar HamiltonJamaicaAldenNew YorkHomicide; Assault; Weapon offense; Smuggle contraband into prisonRomaine CrosdaleJamaicaOcalaFloridaAggravated assault (non-family gun)Sharon YeeJamaicaMiamiFloridaRobbery; Resisting officer; BatteryRasheem MorrisJamaicaCorpus ChristiTexasSex assaultRickey Elmo RobertsJamaicaHoustonTexasAssault; Weapon offenseGarnet Philip SmithJamaicaSpokane ValleyWashingtonAssault; Witness dissuading; multiple aggravated assaults; DV; false imprisonment; terroristic threats; etc.Hopeton FletcherJamaicaAtlantaGeorgiaDrug traffickingEdward Clarke JrJamaicaQuincyMassachusettsAggravated assault (non-family strongarm); Damage property; Drug traffickingRandy RichardsJamaicaLockportNew YorkAssaultTyreke DonaldJamaicaPanama CityFloridaFraudBrian HartJamaicaBelvidereNew JerseyNegligent manslaughter (vehicle); Possession of weapon; Weapon offenseChristopher WilsonJamaicaChesapeakeVirginiaSynthetic narcotic – sell; Drug traffickingMichael McKenzieJamaicaTallahasseeFloridaBattery; AssaultIyenda CampbellJamaicaBeaufortSouth CarolinaMarijuana; Illegal re-entry (8 USC 1326); Marijuana – possessionDevon MorrisJamaicaTucsonArizonaCocaine – sell; Probation violation; Vehicle theft; Illegal entry (8 USC 1325)Deladdo LeckyJamaicaBaltimoreMarylandSynthetic narcotic – sell; Drug traffickingPaul FoxJamaicaFort DixNew JerseyDrug trafficking; Drug possession; Cocaine – sellJason LewisJamaicaAldenNew YorkHomicide; Drug possessionTrevor BellJamaicaMiamiFloridaAggravated assault(s); Trespassing; Battery; Resisting officerDaemien TaylorJamaicaLisbonOhioPossession of weapon; Vehicle theft; Drug trafficking; BurglaryMelkoy MasonJamaicaMiramarFloridaResisting officerRory HarriottJamaicaFort LauderdaleFloridaCarrying concealed weaponDean ClarkeJamaicaHamptonSouth CarolinaAssaultJames Jr JaggonJamaicaLake CityFloridaHomicide (willful kill-weapon); RobberyShemoire PerkinsJamaicaAldenNew YorkWeapon offenseClaudius SmithJamaicaOcoeeFloridaCarrying concealed weaponKevin SpenceJamaicaDoralFloridaAggravated assault (weapon); RobberyKingsley McDonaldJamaicaWest BabylonNew YorkAssault; Marijuana – sellNatalie RuddockJamaicaChantillyVirginiaForgeryDeshaun HowardJamaicaBridgetonNew JerseyArsonVenord Dorn BurrowsJamaicaAtlantaGeorgiaLarceny; Identity theftDavano ConstantineJamaicaFort LauderdaleFloridaRobbery (street-strongarm); Amphetamine – possession; Drug possessionBjon LeeJamaicaTallahasseeFloridaHomicide; Robbery (residence-weapon); RobberyClive BrownJamaicaLake CityFloridaAmphetamine – sell; Cocaine – possessionKemaree ReidJamaicaBellefontePennsylvaniaAggravated assault (non-family strongarm)Wayne WallaceJamaicaFort DixNew JerseyMultiple aggravated assaults; Illegal re-entry; Possession of weapon; Fraud-related offenses; etc.Akeem FearonJamaica(Not listed)FloridaFailure to appearErrol JacksonJamaicaAtlantaGeorgiaMarijuana – sell; Marijuana – possessionCarl McLeodJamaicaWestoverMarylandSexual exploitation of minor; Assault; RapeNixon L GuthrieJamaicaHarrisburgPennsylvaniaAssault; Carrying prohibited weaponCarlton YoungJamaicaStuartFloridaHallucinogen – distribution; CocaineMarvin SalmonJamaicaNewtownConnecticutHomicideCloyd ChambersJamaicaEdisonNew JerseyAggravated assault; Kidnapping; Possession of weapon; Weapon offenseJahmarley McFarlaneJamaicaOakdaleLouisianaFraudMaurice Norman LevyJamaicaAshlandKentuckyCocaine – sell; Wire fraudDadrian DoyleyJamaicaWinchesterVirginiaAssault; Shoplifting; Fraud; Weapon offense; Damage property; LarcenyAndre EtienneJamaicaConyersGeorgiaRape (strongarm); Molestation of minorShamani ThompsonJamaicaDoralFloridaRobbery; Robbery (residence-weapon)Avon ShuttleworthJamaicaAllenwoodPennsylvaniaCocaineKerwin Guilarte-NoahJamaicaLecantoFloridaIllegal re-entry (8 USC 1326)Pete CohenJamaicaOakdaleLouisianaAssault; Property crimes; Larceny; Wire fraudSteven McKenzieJamaicaAtlantaGeorgiaCruelty toward child; Drug possessionIsaiah AlexanderJamaicaAldenNew YorkAggravated assault (weapon)Samorey MillerJamaicaLand O’ LakesFloridaAggravated assault (weapon); Drug possessionBunny HibbertJamaicaJamaicaNew YorkConspiracyDuwayne BaughJamaicaBronxNew YorkWeapon trafficking; Weapon offenseNoel ReidJamaicaMiamiFloridaHomicide; Homicide (willful kill-gun); Cocaine; Cocaine – smuggleRansford LewisJamaicaBellefontePennsylvaniaAggravated assault (family strongarm)Savoy FreebourneJamaicaPinellas ParkFloridaSex offense against child (fondling)Swanie BurnettJamaicaShirleyMassachusettsAggravated assault; Possession of weapon; Aggravated assault (family-gun)Carl ToddJamaicaJamaicaNew YorkRape (strongarm); Dangerous drugsNicolas MendezJamaicaMiamiFloridaAggravated assault (family strongarm); ArsonAlbert NewtonJamaicaAldenNew YorkHomicideDoret JacksonJamaicaOrlandoFloridaCruelty toward child; FraudAndrew KerrJamaicaAldenNew YorkAssault; Selling weaponJovaine ClarkeJamaicaChesterGeorgiaAggravated assault (weapon); Weapon offenseHorace HillJamaicaOkeechobeeFloridaBattery; Burglary; RobberySheldon ThomasJamaicaBronxNew YorkSex assault – carnal abuseAlex HenryJamaicaBennettsvilleSouth CarolinaAssaultWinston JacksonJamaicaJamaicaNew YorkPossession of weapon; Cocaine – possession; Cocaine – sell

HAITI – second-largest

NameCountryArrested (City)Arrested (State)Convictions (as listed by DHS)Silno SilvestreHaitiMuncieIndianaCarrying prohibited weaponFrantz AugustinHaitiLynnMassachusettsAggravated assault – police officer (strongarm)Jean FrancoisHaitiLake CityFloridaRobbery; Robbery – business (weapon); Carrying concealed weaponJolene BoniHaitiHomesteadFloridaCocaine – sell; Narcotic equip – possession; Dangerous drugsMarc James PinardHaitiVictorvilleCaliforniaCarjacking – armedWesley St LouisHaitiNaplesFloridaCocaine – possessionGregory SaintilHaitiLauderdale LakesFloridaAggravated assault – family (strongarm); Cocaine – sellGuidadere CadetHaitiMelbourneFloridaCruelty toward child; Evidence – destroyingJepthe Jean FrancoisHaitiFort LauderdaleFloridaAggravated assault – non-family (strongarm); Drug possession; BurglarySony LundyHaitiHollywoodFloridaFraudTowinsky LericheHaitiMiamiFloridaRobbery – street (gun)Daniel HylandHaitiMiamiFloridaDrug traffickingMarc PaulHaitiLake WorthFloridaCarrying concealed weaponAntoine ElusmaHaitiFort LauderdaleFloridaAggravated assault – non-family (strongarm)Pierre Mary NoelHaitiFort LauderdaleFloridaFraud – impersonating; Cocaine – possessionFranco MillienHaitiGoldsboroNorth CarolinaAggravated assault – police officer (strongarm)Azain VassorHaitiHialeahFloridaPossession of weaponAlberic IsraelHaitiMiamiFloridaAggravated assault – gunRoobens Jean PhilippeHaitiOrlandoFloridaCruelty toward childSon TrompeHaitiDelray BeachFloridaBatteryRichardson NeptuneHaitiIndianapolisIndianaKidnappingDave GermainHaitiWhite DeerPennsylvaniaRobberyFrederic GabrielHaitiOrlandoFloridaLewd or lascivious acts with minorMackenley BaptisteHaitiYorkPennsylvaniaRape (strongarm); Aggravated assault (weapon); Fraud – false statement; Aggravated assault (gun)Wilbert CharlesHaitiNorfolkMassachusettsHomicide; Flight to avoid; Negligent manslaughter (vehicle)James AlexisHaitiAldenNew YorkRobbery; Weapon offenseJames LoiseauHaitiRichmondVirginiaCocaine – sellAnniece PlaisirHaitiTampaFloridaCruelty toward child; LarcenyMarkenson OretienneHaitiBaltimoreMarylandAssaultTimothe MatelHaitiOrlandoFloridaLewd or lascivious acts with minorFabrice DesireHaitiConneautOhioIdentity theft; Receive stolen propertyYvrose CompereHaitiAccomacVirginiaAggravated assault – family (weapon)James ArgantHaitiDoylestownPennsylvaniaBurglary; Shoplifting; Trespassing; Burglary – forced entry; Receive stolen propertyYves Jr CerismeHaitiFort PierceFloridaBattery; Aggravated assault (weapon); Cocaine – sell/possess; Traffic offense; LarcenyJurel JeanHaitiFort LauderdaleFloridaSex assaultKensly LaurentHaitiFort LauderdaleFloridaBatteryWidler DuroseauHaitiColumbusIndianaDUI (liquor)Willie LafranceHaitiWest Palm BeachFloridaAssault; Evidence destroying; Weapon offense; Burglary; Public order crimesMaxo VillierHaitiStuartFloridaAssaultMickens MeranvilleHaitiCrosswicksNew JerseyRobbery – street (gun); Possession of weaponBernard FontusHaitiJacksonvilleFloridaAmphetamine – sell; Drug possession; Cocaine – possession; Narcotic equip – possession; FraudMamadou MbayeHaitiDallasTexasHeroin – possessionSolon RiphinHaitiNaplesFloridaCocaine – sell; Cocaine – possessionHerson OctaviusHaitiSouth BayFloridaBatteryIdovick AlusmaHaitiOakland ParkFloridaBatteryPeter Clayens LauroreHaitiNorth BrunswickNew JerseyAggravated assault – family (strongarm); Cruelty toward childHeesler MerardHaitiKissimmeeFloridaAggravated assault – non-family (gun); BatteryVladimir PerodinHaitiOrlandoFloridaCocaine – smuggle; Cocaine – sellEdreens FlaurentHaitiBrocktonMassachusettsAggravated assault – non-family (weapon)Bianta JosephHaitiFort PierceFloridaRobbery; Hit and run; Robbery – business (gun)Frantz ThernisseHaitiAldenNew YorkWeapon offenseJaheim DeciusHaitiChambersburgPennsylvaniaCocaine – sellJean ConcileHaitiHagerstownMarylandHomicide; Assault; Aggravated assault – gunKendy JosephHaitiBaltimoreMarylandAssault; Weapon offenseTony JosephHaiti(Not listed)FloridaCocaine – sellJude HilaireHaitiLake CityFloridaRobbery; BurglaryLens AltidorHaitiMedfordMassachusettsAggravated assault – police officer (strongarm); Marijuana – sell; Drug trafficking; AssaultAugustin DesgrangeHaitiMiamiFloridaResisting officer; Illegal re-entry (8 USC 1326)Mateo PierreHaitiKissimmeeFloridaAggravated assault – non-family (weapon)Ronald Jean JacquesHaitiAldenNew YorkHomicide; Assault; Possession of weapon; Dangerous drugsNathalie PremierHaitiLecantoFloridaAggravated assault (weapon); Aggravated assault – non-family (weapon)Ephraim JeanHaitiBostonMassachusettsSex assaultMaderson AlricheHaitiSumtervilleFloridaPossession of weapon; Identity theft (70AA); Fraud – impersonatingMcArnold CharlemagneHaitiOakdaleLouisianaFraud by wirePierre SylvestreHaitiMuncieIndianaResisting officer; Obstruct policeBerkendy TheodorisHaitiTallahasseeFloridaAggravated assault (weapon); Possession of weapon; Burglary; Fraud; Resisting officerJunior AlcinHaitiLeesportPennsylvaniaAssault; Weapon offense; Larceny; Terroristic threatsMersedy BlancHaitiOrlandoFloridaSex assaultNatacha PierreHaitiRoyal Palm BeachFloridaFraud – false statement; False citizenshipNesly GuerrierHaitiWewahitchkaFloridaSex assault; Robbery – street (gun); False imprisonmentOrlentz NelsonceHaitiMiami GardensFloridaBattery; Robbery – street (gun); Aggravated assault – gunBernard ErtilusHaitiNorth LauderdaleFloridaDomestic violenceVladimyr MilordHaitiYorkPennsylvaniaFlight to avoidJoseph OliverHaitiTallahasseeFloridaSex assault; Kidnapping; RobberyRaynald RomulusHaitiMiamiFloridaBurglaryRousselet AlphonseHaitiWest Palm BeachFloridaCocaine – sellClaude DesirHaitiBridgetonNew JerseySex assault; Cruelty toward childOdney NorciusHaitiOrlandoFloridaAggravated assault – police officer (weapon)Sounedialie BellegardeHaitiNaplesFloridaCrimes against person; Probation violationFrantzy DorzeneHaitiDoralFloridaAggravated assault – non-family (weapon); BurglaryJimmy FleurissantHaitiDoralFloridaSex assault; Resisting officerVictor GueHaitiOrlandoFloridaCruelty toward childAndy PhilippeHaitiMiamiFloridaLewd or lascivious acts with minor; Neglect childValry ExantusHaitiLouisvilleKentuckyDomestic violence; Crimes against person; Receive stolen property; Flight to avoidHarry MocombeHaitiMiramarFloridaBurglary; Fraud; Stolen property; Larceny; Sale of stolen propertyNadine PierreHaitiAtlantaGeorgiaFraud; LarcenySamuel MarcelinHaitiWashingtonPennsylvaniaAggravated assault – family (strongarm)Emmanuel NogausHaitiTallahasseeFloridaRobberyFrancois BernardHaitiBostonMassachusettsSex assault; Aggravated assault – family (strongarm)Stervenson DemesierHaitiChipleyFloridaSex assault – carnal abuse; Lewd or lascivious acts with minorJamesley AlcenaHaitiDoralFloridaBattery; Burglary; LarcenyRicolson ConstantinHaitiPollockLouisianaAggravated assault (weapon); Aggravated assault – police officer (gun); RobberyStanley ProuHaitiBurlingtonMassachusettsCarrying concealed weapon; Cocaine – sellChristos SaintcyrHaitiKemmererWyomingMarijuana – sellDidy QuetantHaitiOrlandoFloridaRobbery; BatteryScotte CherenfantHaitiThomsonIllinoisWeapon offense; Fraud – false statement; Identity theft (70AA)Bansage CalixteHaitiBelvidereNew JerseyForgery of checks; Receive stolen property; Credit card fraudPierre LajoieHaitiAldenNew YorkSex assaultFritz Gerald BailleHaitiMiamiFloridaDrug trafficking; Synthetic narcotic – sellJames CheryHaitiKissimmeeFloridaDomestic violenceStanley AntoineHaitiNorth Kansas CityMissouriPossession of weapon; Burglary; Stolen vehicleMarc Andre FleurivalHaitiOrlandoFloridaMarijuana – sell; Forgery; Cocaine – possess/sell; Resisting officerYvenson LebrunHaitiCasselberryFloridaBurglary; Sale of stolen property; RICOPatrick CadetHaitiCocoaFloridaWeapon offense; Cocaine – possession; Carrying concealed weapon

BAHAMAS

NameCountryArrested (City)Arrested (State)ConvictionsDeantae RolleBahamasPanama CityFloridaMarijuana – possessionJoseph ThomasBahamasBennettsvilleSouth CarolinaAmphetamine – manufacturing; Cocaine; Cocaine – sellKenthen SwainBahamasPalmettoFloridaAggravated assault – police officer (strongarm); Opium/heroin sales; Hit and runNaaman DavisBahamasThomsonIllinoisSmuggling aliensAntoine StuartBahamasHighspirePennsylvaniaSex assault; Vehicle theft; BurglaryDuzzlie RigbyBahamasMiamiFloridaAssault; Burglary; Carrying concealed weapon; LarcenyIan PorterBahamasOrlandoFloridaRobbery; Robbery – street (gun)Solano LaddusBahamasWest Palm BeachFloridaBurglaryJoshua BrennenBahamasHoustonTexasCarrying concealed weapon; Weapon offense; Firing weaponLavardo John BasdenBahamasAtwaterCaliforniaRobbery; Robbery – residence (strongarm); Stolen vehicleAnthony BrownBahamasMiramarFloridaAggravated assault; Cocaine – possession; Burglary tools; Robbery; Burglary; FraudReko CurryBahamasYazoo CityMississippiHuman trafficking; Smuggling aliensDevon RichardsonBahamasSan DiegoCaliforniaAssault; DUI (liquor); LarcenyJeremy RolleBahamasYazoo CityMississippiSmuggling aliensChristopher JohnsonBahamasWelchWest VirginiaSmuggling aliensKervens GeorgesBahamasMiramarFloridaCocaine – sell; Identity theft (70AA); FraudDarren SimmonsBahamasFort LauderdaleFloridaCrimes against person; Fraud – impersonatingChristopher PrattBahamasBlountstownFloridaHomicide (willful kill, gun); Robbery – street (weapon)Cordero BethelBahamasYazoo CityMississippiSmuggling aliensWilner JosephBahamasMiramarFloridaCarrying concealed weapon; Heroin – possessionLouise GreenBahamasMiramarFloridaCocaine – sellTekito StevensonBahamasJacksonvilleFloridaLarceny; Forgery; Probation violation; Battery; FraudRubin TaylorBahamasPrescottArizonaWeapon offense; Smuggling aliensKeith MerchantBahamasHarlingenTexasSmuggling aliensZion RhodriquezBahamasConwaySouth CarolinaAssaultKendra IngrahamBahamasFort LauderdaleFloridaDrug trafficking; Fraud – impersonatingMichael OlibricesBahamasMiamiFloridaBattery; Robbery; Cocaine possession; Negligent manslaughter (weapon); Evidence destroying; etc.

BELIZE

NameCountryArrested (City)Arrested (State)ConvictionsNestor Alberto CastilloBelizeSturtevantWisconsinCarrying concealed weapon; Trespassing; Larceny; Bail violationsJomo AvilaBelizeVan NuysCaliforniaSex assault; Aggravated assault (family strongarm); Failure to register sex offender; Molestation; Child sex offenseAkeem GarnettBelizeSoledadCaliforniaDomestic violence; Burglary; Illegal re-entry (8 USC 1326)Aaron SabalBelizePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaPossession of weaponMarlon William BellBelizeSan PedroCaliforniaAssault; Cruelty toward wife; Domestic violence; Aggravated assault (gun)Carlos GomezBelizeWickliffeKentuckyAggravated assault (family strongarm); Crimes against person; AssaultFrancis FlowersBelizeYazoo CityMississippiAssault; Robbery; Battery; Illegal re-entry (8 USC 1326)Shane ArnoldBelizeLompocCaliforniaCarrying concealed weapon; Drug traffickingWinston KnightBelizeChesapeakeVirginiaAssault; Drug possessionKimala HenryBelizeLos AngelesCaliforniaDrug trafficking; Marijuana – sellAshley RiversBelizeMiramarFloridaLarceny; Drug possessionLindon FlowersBelizeHawthorneCaliforniaTerroristic threats; ExtortionTheodore ReneauBelizeButnerNorth CarolinaAggravated assault (non-family weapon); Illegal re-entry (8 USC 1326)Alex MajanoBelizeMineolaNew YorkTraffic offense; DUI (liquor)Jermie ParhamBelizeYorkPennsylvaniaDrug traffickingOrlin Cristobal-ReyesBelizeShreveportLouisianaResisting officerHilbert BethranBelizeAndersonSouth CarolinaWeapon offense; Cruelty toward wife; Illegal re-entry (8 USC 1326)Israel SholBelize(Not listed)(Not listed)Smuggling aliensRennet TillettBelizeMoreno ValleyCaliforniaAggravated assault (gun); Possession of weapon; Carrying prohibited weapon; Weapon offense

GUYANA

NameCountryArrested (City)Arrested (State)ConvictionsKwesi MenezesGuyanaMount HollyNew JerseyAggravated assault – police officer (strongarm)Dwayne WaitheGuyanaNew YorkNew YorkPossession of weapon; Illegal re-entry (8 USC 1326); Marijuana – sell; Drug traffickingMohamed YusufGuyanaAlbanyNew YorkProstitution; Commercial sexRakesh PersuadGuyanaSpringfield GardensNew YorkKidnapping; Robbery; Cruelty toward childRonald DoodnauthGuyanaOrlandoFloridaAggravated assault – family (strongarm); Cruelty toward child; Assault; BurglaryHarinarine RamkissoonGuyanaAldenNew YorkHomicide; DUI (liquor)Deon WatsonGuyanaEast OrangeNew JerseySex offense against child – fondlingVickram MosesGuyanaQueens VillageNew YorkAssaultDaneshwar PersaudGuyanaTallahasseeFloridaAggravated assault – weaponSean AllicockGuyanaChambersburgPennsylvaniaRobbery; Illegal re-entry (8 USC 1326); Stolen propertyMarty ScottGuyanaAnthonyTexasPossession of weapon; Drug trafficking; Dangerous drugsRobert ChapmanGuyana(Not listed)TexasForgery of checksRaymond FergusonGuyanaHuttonsvilleWest VirginiaDrug trafficking; Computer crimesVedoutie HoobrajGuyanaNewberryFloridaFraud by wire

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

NameCountryArrested (City)Arrested (State)ConvictionsAlvin HenryTrinidad & TobagoAldenNew YorkStatutory rape (no force); Rape (strongarm)Michael FlandersTrinidad & TobagoAldenNew YorkWeapon offense; Possession of weaponJohn TeniaTrinidad & TobagoKearnyNew JerseyAggravated assault – family (strongarm); Carrying prohibited weaponNealon HypoliteTrinidad & TobagoRichmondIndianaPossession of weapon; Marijuana – possession; Weapon offense; Negligent manslaughter (weapon)Andrew LoganTrinidad & Tobago(Not listed)New YorkDangerous drugs; Heroin – possession; Public order crimesJoshua Luke PlentieTrinidad & TobagoBellefontePennsylvaniaRapeRicardo WaldronTrinidad & TobagoThomsonIllinoisSelling weaponStephan DavidsonTrinidad & TobagoBronxNew YorkPossession of weaponStephen CampoTrinidad & TobagoOrlandoFloridaLewd or lascivious acts with minorVijai DubeTrinidad & TobagoAldenNew YorkHomicideJohnathan RamnathTrinidad & TobagoKearnyNew JerseyLarcenyLevi RoopchandTrinidad & TobagoPollockLouisianaExplosives – possession; Terrorism; Amphetamine; Drug traffickingJoanna LewisTrinidad & TobagoLithoniaGeorgiaDrug trafficking

SMALLER CARICOM COUNTRIES

Antigua & Barbuda

NameCountryArrested (City)Arrested (State)ConvictionsKieron JonasAntigua & BarbudaOrlandoFloridaSex offense; Drug possession

Barbados

NameCountryArrested (City)Arrested (State)ConvictionsVince EllisBarbadosAldenNew YorkRobbery; Burglary; Weapon offense

Dominica

NameCountryArrested (City)Arrested (State)ConvictionsErnel ChambersDominicaBaltimoreMarylandAggravated assault (non-family weapon); Robbery – street (weapon)Michael WilliamsDominicaTallahasseeFloridaFraud – impersonating; Fraud

Grenada

NameCountryArrested (City)Arrested (State)ConvictionsAkeem TaylorGrenadaMiamiFloridaSmugglingPeter ThomasGrenadaChinoCaliforniaAssault; Robbery; Cocaine – sell; Cocaine – smuggle

St. Kitts & Nevis

NameCountryArrested (City)Arrested (State)ConvictionsPeter Lee Coker JrSt. Kitts & NevisDanburyConnecticutFraud; ConspiracyTrevor BassueSt. Kitts & NevisHoustonTexasRobbery; Dangerous drugs

St. Lucia

NameCountryArrested (City)Arrested (State)ConvictionsIrvin ZephurinSt. LuciaBiddefordMaineAssaultStanfield VitalisSt. LuciaDallasTexasAggravated assault – family (strongarm)Gregory AtkinsSt. LuciaOakdaleLouisianaCarrying prohibited weapon; Cocaine – sellTrevor StephenSt. LuciaLisbonOhioCocaine

Suriname

NameCountryArrested (City)Arrested (State)ConvictionsChanelle MisiedjanSurinameNew CastleDelawareDUI (liquor)

Turks & Caicos

NameCountryArrested (City)Arrested (State)ConvictionsWendy BelizaireTurks & CaicosFort LauderdaleFloridaFraud – swindle; Fraud

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Dec. 31, 2025: The federal criminal case against Guyana-born, former school superintendent, Ian Roberts, will move into the spring of 2026, as a U.S. court has set a new trial date of March 2, 2026, following a defense request for additional preparation time.

Court filings show Roberts’ legal team sought a continuance, citing the volume of evidence involved in the case and the need for more time to review discovery materials. Federal prosecutors agreed to the delay, pushing the trial from its original December 1st date. Roberts has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has until February 2, 2026, to enter any additional plea.

ICE arrested Guyanese national serving as Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent; prior weapons charges and in possession of loaded handgun at time of arrest

A Case At The Intersection Of Immigration And Public Trust

Roberts has been in custody since September 26th, when he was arrested by Iowa State Police and transferred to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, (ICE) custody. Federal authorities allege that Roberts falsely claimed U.S. citizenship when he was hired by the Des Moines Public Schools and later illegally possessed four firearms while lacking lawful immigration status.

ICE has said Roberts entered the United States from Guyana in 1999 on a student visa, but later lost legal authorization to work. According to the agency, a final order of removal was issued by an immigration court in May 2024, months before his arrest.

The case has drawn attention not only because of the criminal charges, but also because Roberts rose to the top of public school systems in two U.S. states while allegedly lacking legal status—raising questions about hiring oversight, credential verification, and institutional safeguards.

From Superintendent To Federal Defendant

Roberts was appointed superintendent of the Des Moines Public Schools in July 2023, following three years in the same role at the Millcreek Township School District. His tenure came to an abrupt halt after federal authorities disclosed details of his immigration history and criminal allegations.

School boards in both districts have since faced scrutiny over how Roberts’ background and eligibility were vetted. In Pennsylvania, the Millcreek School Board has publicly acknowledged reviewing potential legal action related to the matter, while education officials in Iowa have faced questions from parents and lawmakers.

Defense Seeks Time Amid “Voluminous” Discovery

In court filings, Roberts’ attorney described the discovery process as extensive, noting that while the charges themselves are not complex, the defense requires significant time to prepare. The filing states that Roberts has not yet had sufficient opportunity to review the materials provided by prosecutors.

The court agreed, granting the delay and setting a new timeline that keeps Roberts in custody as the case proceeds.

Broader Implications For Immigrant Professionals

The case has resonated beyond Iowa and Pennsylvania, particularly within immigrant and Caribbean diaspora communities, where it has sparked debate about immigration enforcement, professional licensing, and how long-term residents can still face sudden detention and removal.

Advocates note that Roberts’ situation highlights the precarious position of non-citizens, even those who have built careers in public institutions, as immigration enforcement increasingly intersects with criminal proceedings.

What Comes Next

As the March 2026 trial date approaches, Roberts remains in ICE custody while federal prosecutors pursue the case. Legal observers say the outcome could have implications not only for Roberts, but also for how public institutions evaluate credentials and immigration status in senior-level hires.

For now, the case continues to underscore the far-reaching consequences of immigration enforcement—extending well beyond borders and into classrooms, communities, and public trust.

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Dec. 23, 2025: In a moment when Haitian immigrants are often discussed through the lens of crisis, deportation, or policy debates, Pierre Laborde, a Harlem-based Haitian born designer, is quietly rewriting that narrative – one handcrafted handbag at a time.

Haitian immigrant bag marker Pierre Laborde whose bags have gone viral featured in NY Times

Laborde, a Haitian immigrant and self-taught luxury bag maker, has become an unlikely viral sensation, drawing long lines, sold-out drops, and social media frenzy for his vividly colored, meticulously crafted handbags. Recently featured by The New York Times, Laborde’s story is not just about fashion – it is about Caribbean creativity, immigrant perseverance, and the power of cultural craft in the diaspora.

A Haitian Creative Journey Rooted In Craft

Born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Laborde immigrated to New York shortly after finishing high school, carrying with him a deep love for fashion shaped by Haiti’s tradition of tailoring and personal style. Long before TikTok and viral drops, he was altering fabrics, experimenting with color, and imagining bags that stood apart from mass-produced luxury.

“In Haiti, all my clothes were tailor-made,” Laborde has said, noting that fashion was always personal, expressive, and intentional. That philosophy now defines his handbags — bold, tactile pieces that resist trends and mass replication.

Years Of Quiet Hustle Before The Spotlight

For nearly a decade, Laborde sold his bags at the Grand Bazaar on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, often enduring weeks with few or no sales. He balanced odd jobs, studied fashion design one class at a time at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and turned his Harlem apartment into both workshop and showroom.

There were moments, he admits, when continuing felt impossible.

But persistence – a familiar trait in Caribbean immigrant stories – carried him forward.

A Viral Moment Meets Community Demand

Everything changed when a TikTok video urging viewers to “blow this man’s brand up” circulated late last year. Without major marketing, investors, or fashion-house backing, Laborde’s work found its audience organically. Shoppers began lining up hours early. Drops sold out in minutes. Crowd control systems had to be introduced to keep things orderly.

His bags, now priced between $295 and $1,200, remain handmade, limited, and deeply personal – each reflecting a commitment to craftsmanship rather than scale.

More Than Fashion: A Diaspora Success Story

What makes Laborde’s rise particularly significant is its timing. Haitian immigrants in the U.S. are currently facing heightened scrutiny, the loss of legal protections, and widespread misinformation. Against that backdrop, his success challenges narrow narratives and highlights the economic, cultural, and creative contributions Haitians bring to American life.

His story echoes a broader Caribbean truth: that migration is not merely movement born of hardship, but also a transfer of skill, vision, and cultural capital.

Redefining Luxury Through Caribbean Hands

Laborde’s handbags are not produced in factories or driven by seasonal trends. They are shaped by lived experience, patience, and artistic integrity – values deeply rooted in Caribbean making traditions.

As customers continue to applaud him at market tables and online drops sell out within minutes, Laborde remains grounded.

“There were times I went home with zero dollars,” he has reflected. “So this is overwhelming.”

For many in the Caribbean Diaspora, it is also affirming – a reminder that behind viral moments are years of unseen labor, and behind every “overnight success” is a long immigrant journey worth telling.

By Dr. Isaac Newton

News Americas, New York, NY, Thurs. Dec. 18, 2025: The recent decision by President Donald Trump to impose U.S. visa restrictions on Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica should not be read as an ending, but as a diagnostic moment. Power has a way of speaking in policy rather than poetry, and when it does, small states are forced to interpret the subtext. The question is not whether the Caribbean has been treated fairly, but whether Caribbean leadership is prepared to respond with clarity rather than reflex.

FLASHBACK – US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrives for a meeting with House leadership on the military strikes against drug boats in the Caribbean, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, December 16, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)

Visa restrictions are not moral judgments. They are administrative signals shaped by data, trust, and institutional confidence. The real work therefore sits closer to home than to Washington. Leadership must focus on tightening governance systems, aligning regulatory practices, strengthening verification processes, and communicating seriousness through action rather than press statements. International confidence is rarely negotiated in crisis; it is accumulated through quiet consistency.

The vulnerability exposed here is not size but fragmentation. When responses are uncoordinated and reforms are delayed, small states appear uncertain even when they are capable. The global environment rewards countries that plan ahead, manage risk deliberately, and engage partners with preparation instead of protest. Strategic leadership requires foresight, not improvisation.

The Caribbean holds tangible strengths: location that matters, people who adapt quickly, and histories that have sharpened judgment. What remains is the disciplined translation of these assets into durable institutions and credible public administration. Modern sovereignty is not performed. It is practiced daily through reliability, competence, and measured decision-making.

This moment offers a choice. Remain trapped in explanation, or move decisively into reform. Travel restrictions may slow movement, but they do not define destiny. The Caribbean’s future will be shaped by leaders who think beyond reaction, govern beyond excuses, and build systems that work regardless of external pressure. Leadership, when it is deliberate and grounded, becomes its own form of access.

Editor’s Note: Dr. Isaac Newton is a strategist and scholar trained at Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia. He advises governments and international institutions on governance, transformation, and global justice, helping nations and organizations turn vision into sustainable progress.