President Irfaan Ali spoke on Monday with newly appointed US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and according to a statement from the US State Department, the President and the Secretary of State spoke about the crisis of illegal immigration and agreed to address the issue jointly.

The State Department said Secretary Rubio also affirmed the United States’ steadfast support of Guyana’s territorial integrity “in the face of Nicolás Maduro and his cronies’ bellicose actions”.

The US has been a longtime supporter of Guyana in the border controversy with Venezuela. The US Government recently announced a US$25 Million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the Venezuelan President.

The bulletin was issued on the same day that Maduro was sworn in as President to serve another term following his country’s disputed elections, which the opposition maintain was won by them.

Venezuela has been increasing its rhetoric against Guyana amid its ongoing claims of Guyana’s Essequibo. Just recently, the Venezuelan Government announced plans to host elections for a Governor of Guyana’s Essequibo region, which it regards as one of its states.

Guyana has briefed the international community on the issue, and the Venezuelan Government has been widely condemned repeatedly over its claims.

On the issue of the US Government and illegal immigration, since the new Donald Trump administration took office a week ago, the US President has been leading a crackdown on illegal immigration and undocumented migrants. US Authorities have been carrying out raids in a number of cities across the US and has been deporting undocumented migrants.

In the New York area, which is home to thousands of Guyanese, many Guyanese influencers and some activists have taken to their social media pages to encourage their fellow countrymen not to provide information to the US authorities about those undocumented migrants.

Last week, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo made it clear that Guyana would have no choice but to accept deported Guyanese nationals from the United States.

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