Immigration Officials Explain Recent Corona Virus Scare

From an immigration and border management perspective, Horace Guzman described the incident that happened at the Phillip Goldson International Airport over the weekend.  He says that while the twelve Asian nationals who arrived on Saturday were held at the P.G.I.A. overnight, they were kept in isolation inside the old VIP Room at the airport.

Horace Guzman, Immigration and Border Control

“From what I was told, the persons of Asian descent, yes, arrived.  They were turned back because they provided false information, untrue information to the immigration officers upon being questioned.  That is an offense and it’s grounds for refusal, so we refused them based on those grounds that they provided wrong information to us through their interpreter.  I would prefer to yield to Ms. Card, maybe after the press conference because she is the port commander at the airport, she was on the ground…  But that was what happened at the airport.”

Horace Guzman

Reporter

“But was there some reluctance on behalf of the carrier, American Airlines, to take them back?”

Horace Guzman

“At first yes, but we insisted that those persons had to return back to Miami from where they came and that instruction was complied with.”

Reporter

“But in the mean time they had to sleep in the airport which is not…”

Horace Guzman

“Yes, they stayed at the airport, blankets and other amenities were provided to them for them to stay.  They actually stayed at the VIP lounge at the airport, the old VIP lounge at the airport.”