CAL denies passengers subject to searches in the US
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — The Trinidad and Tobago-owned Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is denying social media reports that its passengers arriving in the United States (US) are experiencing “mass secondary screenings” by authorities.
In a statement, CAL said it wanted to address the reports circulating in the public domain regarding “its passengers being subjected to mass secondary screenings upon entry into the United States, specifically in Orlando, Florida.”
“The airline can confirm, following thorough checks with its senior personnel in Orlando, that no such screening exercise with respect to Caribbean Airlines was conducted.”
CAL added, “Furthermore, the airline has received no notification or advisory from US authorities indicating that such an exercise was conducted or is being contemplated.”
Since he was sworn into office on January 20; United States President Donald Trump has signed executive orders launching a massive crackdown on illegal immigration, with thousands of undocumented immigrants being arrested and deported.
The Trump administration has declared illegal immigration a national emergency, vowing to halt all illegal entry and return millions of undocumented immigrants to their home countries.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted widespread raids, arresting over a thousand illegal immigrants. Hundreds have been flown out of the US on military aircraft, sparking outrage from immigrant communities and advocacy groups.