Ex terrorists son is kicked out of states
The son of a former INLA man has been deported from New York.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Sunday Life can reveal Jamie McAllister - whose dad Malachy is facing a
battle to remain in his adopted country - was sent home last month.
Although the 29-year-old has relatives in Belfast, he has been staying with
pals in Dublin over fears he would be targeted by loyalist extremists.
The Belfast-born man was arrested by officials from the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) and told that he was being deported.
He was then dressed in a stranger's clothing and given $$20 before he was
chained and escorted on to the plane by US federal marshals.
Like his father, Jamie McAllister had been reporting monthly to the DHS in
New Jersey since December 2003, under an order of supervision.
He was denied political asylum because of an offence he committed when he
was a teenager.
It's understood he was cautioned, but not jailed for possessing a "
controlled substance".
The deportee had been living in the US for the last 20 years after his
family fled Belfast when their home was raked with bullets by a Red Hand
Commando terror gang.
Mr McAllister, who was forced to leave his wife Noelle behind, is now trying
to re-build his life on this side of the Atlantic.
However, it's still not clear if the local man intends to fight against the
decision.
Speaking to Sunday Life in New York, McAllister Family Campaign for Justice
spokeswoman Carol Russell condemned the decision.
Said Ms Russell: "Now in his late twenties, Jamie's youthful mistake
has condemned him to deportation to a country which he, as a small boy, fled
with his family under fire from loyalist paramilitaries.
"Jamie has known no life other than that of a typical American boy
growing up in a New Jersey neighbourhood surrounded by his siblings, parents
and a supportive Irish-American community.
"Although he is married to a US citizen, his fate was sealed. He also
lived through the long legal battle his parents fought to gain political
asylum for the entire family.
"Our campaign for justice has always stood firmly on the cornerstone
of keeping together this close-knit family that fled from Belfast's violent
past, taking our cue from Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.
"But now the family must endure further tragedy as they are separated
by an ocean from a son, brother and husband to whom they were not even
permitted to say farewell."
She added: "Clearly, the DHS is moved little by any such humanitarian
concerns.
The young man's grandmother, Ellen, also hit out at the US authorities to
deport her grandson.
Added Mrs McAllister: "We are all just devastated and can't believe
this has happened to Jamie. The only thing he has known for the last 20
years is America. This decision is so unfair.
"They have taken a hard-working man away from his wife and family, and
we think they have done this just to get back at Malachy.
"We will give him all the support we can and he's now just trying to
work through the red tape so he can get some work."
