Soyinka will not face charges if he destroys his green card — U.S. Immigration Lawyers

The United States government will not bring any civil or criminal charges against Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, if he eventually destroys his American green card as openly threatened, U.S. immigration experts told newsmen.

In fact, Mr. Soyinka will still be able to visit the United States at any time he desires even after destroying his green card before the public glare, the lawyers said.

Immigration attorneys, Isaac Falusi and Samuel Adewusi, said in separate interviews with PREMIUM TIMES that the controversies surrounding the decision of the professor are inconsequential in the U.S.

Mr. Falusi, an expert in immigration and international trade law, said Mr. Soyinka would have merely exercised his free speech by destroying his green card.

“Destroying a green card is an expression of free speech which no one will ever be penalised for in America,” Mr. Falusi said. “Being a resident in America is a voluntary thing.”
“The government gave him the green card because he was qualified when he applied for it,” Mr. Falusi said.

The lawyer said the U.S. Homeland Security, which handles such documents, may not even be aware of the controversy and even if it were, it still won’t mean an action will be taken.
“If he has made a public show of destroying his card, that doesn’t mean the Homeland Security is aware of it,” Mr. Falusi said. “ But even if they were, he will still be able to easily obtain another green card because his name is still on the computer as a valid American resident.”

There have been reports that Mr. Soyinka faces a jail term should he destroy his green card.
The professor first stated a fortnight ago that he would destroy his green card if Donald Trump was elected president.

“The moment they announce his [Trump’s] victory, I will cut my green card myself and start packing up,” Mr. Soyinka told a gathering at Oxford University in what appeared like a casual observation about the tone of the American campaign at the time.

Mr. Trump won the election on June 8, prompting immediate demand and mockery from Nigerians.
He hit back at critics in a 4,000-word essay on Saturday, describing them as noisome creatures and nattering nitwits. He, however, reassured that he will still go ahead to ahead as planned, but only on his own terms.

But if he really wants to cut his access to the U.S., then he will need to do more than shred his residency card, Mr. Adewusi said.

Mr. Adewusi, Chairman of the Board of Trustee of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in the Americas, further stated that “in order to destroy your green card you have to go to a consulate near you, especially if you’re outside the United States.”

“At the consulate, you must request for and fill a document called Form I-407. It is a long process but only after you complete before you could boldly say that you have destroyed your access to enter America.”

Mr. Adewusi echoed Mr. Falusi’s position that Mr. Soyinka’s action is strictly an exercise of his free speech.

“It’s more of a free speech the same way people burn flags and their passports. No one will penalise him for anything,” Mr. Adewusi said.

(PREMIUM TIMES)


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  1. Oooya!,follow the due process,Mr soyinka and ensure you obtain form 1-407 and ensure you fast track it by month ending,so all know you the man of your words but failure to do so we will that have lost your reputation and you can never say anything again and people will believe you
    Kkkkkkkkk trump is coming kkkkkkk

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  2. Oooya!,follow the due process,Mr soyinka and ensure you obtain form 1-407 and ensure you fast track it by month ending,so all know you the man of your words but failure to do so we will that have lost your reputation and you can never say anything again and people will believe you
    Kkkkkkkkk trump is coming kkkkkkk

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  3. What is wrong with you people? The man uttered that statement out of frustration and that does not mean he really meant it. I am certain, most people asking the honourable professor to destroy his passport do not even have that type of passport. Perhaps they think it was gotten on a platter of gold. Perhaps, some of them have tried to have one but failed at many attempts. Come to think of it, Donald Trump (DT) can only rule America for 8 years (maximum time limits). The passport's legacy or lifetime outlives Donald Trump. Should professor proceed to carry out his threat, these same set of people will laugh at him. They will mock and give him names.

    My sincere piece of advice to our dear professor is to ignore the critics and see what Donald Trump will do for America. I also don't really believe in him, DT and it was a rude shock to have him declared as winner. But the Almighty God knows best. DT may surprise us, let us just wait and see what's going to happen. For sure some will suffer under his watch and I have huge concerns having him as president of the USA. God bless everyone of us and thank you for reading my post.

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  4. You must tear it! This is why many believe that the Yoruba's are not dependable people. Say one thing in the morning and another in the afternoon. Tear it publicly if you ate a man of honour. Ci kena!

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  5. “The moment they announce his [Trump’s] victory, I will cut my green card myself and start packing up,” of these were shaolin master's words can be explain it clearly to us? Cos it sounds like once the winner of the election is announced, his green card goes to shreds. Make the educated born fool explain the sentence to us what he meant by “The moment they announce his victory”

    ReplyDelete

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