DPP defends deportation of US missionary and family

ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC):

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Sherma Dalrymple, has defended the decision to deport a missionary and his family, saying their “continued stay in Dominica would have been detrimental and unlawful and, as such, not in the public’s interest”.

Dalrymple said Jason Grogg and his dependents were deemed prohibited immigrants, in accordance with the Immigration and Passport Act.

“The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution understands that this situation has sparked public questions and debate,” the DPP said, adding that the repatriation of the Grogg family “was legal and the procedures employed by the police were fair and just”.

She said Grogg was convicted of “serious firearms offences” here and that the entire family members “were not regularised under the immigration laws of Dominica, and Jason Grogg had several Customs charges related to firearm and evasion of Cstoms duties before the court”.

Earlier this month, Dalrymple issued a “notice of discontinuance” to the court, ending all matters involving the state and Grogg.

Grogg, who was arrested last year on gun and ammunition-related offences and pleaded guilty to the charges, was, along with his family, deported on March 6.

Jason and Jennifer Grogg and their two teenage daughters were taken into custody on April 17, 2023 when authorities found the gun and ammunition inside the 40-foot shipping container the family used to store their belongings.

After seven days in jail, Jason pleaded guilty to possessing the firearm without a licence, and paid an EC$9,250 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) fine to secure the release of his wife and daughters.

The charges against his wife and daughters were all dismissed.

Jason, however, insisted that the officials only uncovered “some miscellaneous ammunition” and a handgun for which he planned to secure a permit.

Meanwhile, Grogg has vowed to return to Dominica, saying it is the will of God.

He told the Dominica News Online publication that “everything I own is in Dominica. “So why would I leave that? I am going to fight for my right, for my children, our library with 3,000 books in a shipping container that has been held hostage by Customs for almost a year now. Dominica is our new home. While we may be US citizens, the United States is no longer my home. I was working towards citizenship.”