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Mr. Raul Tomas Garcia Castilla, a Cuban national was released from HMP Dodds on March 11, 2010 after serving a prison sentence for the importation, possession and trafficking in cocaine.

He was detained at the Grantley Adams International Airport after his release from HMP Dodds in accordance with Section 22(2) of the Immigration Act Cap. 190 which states that where a deportation order is made against a person, the Minister may order that person to be detained in custody in such place as the Minister directs and for such period as may be necessary for the purpose of making arrangements for his removal from Barbados.

The Immigration Department made several efforts since 2010 to remove Mr. Garcia Castilla from Barbados to his homeland, Cuba.?? He is now a prohibited immigrant in accordance with Subsections 4(b), 4(c) and Section 5 of the First Schedule to the Immigration Act, Cap. 190, because of the very serious nature of his criminal convictions.?? The efforts proved futile because, according to the Cuban authorities, due to the length of time Mr. Garcia Castilla had resided outside Cuba, he is no longer entitled to return to Cuba even though he was born there and is in possession of a valid Cuban passport.?? Mr. Garcia Castilla cannot re-enter the United States of America having lost his permanent residence status there.?? He cannot be returned to Colombia

since he had travelled (apparently) on a fraudulently obtained Colombian passport in a false name.?? He is under the laws of this country, an immigration detainee entitled to stay in Barbados only until arrangements can be made for his departure.

Mr. Garcia Castilla was detained at the Grantley Adams International Airport until December 17, 2010 when he was removed to HMP Dodds when it became clear that his stay was lasting longer than expected.

Mr. Garcia Castilla was released from Her Majesty’s Prisons, Dodds, into the custody of the Chief Immigration Officer on September 9, 2012 and is being accommodated at a Detention Facility, which is under the jurisdiction and control of personnel from the Immigration Department.?? Immigration Officers will function as the Control Staff assisted by members of the Royal Barbados Police Force and the Barbados Defence Force.?? Every effort will continue to be made to keep him as comfortable as possible until he can find a country that is willing to accept him.

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