After 25 Years in the U.S., Musician Faces Deportation and Seeks Legal Support

Eddie Bellas, a Saint Lucian musician and self-described "love and light" advocate, has returned to his native St. Lucia following a 25-year stay in the United States and his subsequent deportation. After being sent back on May 24, he is now striving to reconstruct his life and reunite with his four children. Hailing from Bellevue in Vieux Fort, Bellas initiated a GoFundMe campaign, aiming to raise US$47,000 to support his ongoing legal endeavors. Bellas attributes his deportation to an overstayed B-1 visa issued before his arrival in September 2000, a situation he contends was unjust from the outset. He emphasizes that he was only 17, a minor by U.S. law, and claims he did not consciously agree to any visa terms. Currently, Bellas seeks assistance not only for legal representation but also for essential needs as he navigates reintegration. He describes his former residing conditions as substandard and acknowledges the absence of fundamental resources such as shelter. Critical legal questions surrounding his case remain unresolved, igniting his pursuit of justice through the U.S. courts. He alleges mistreatment during his time in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, claiming physical abuse and solitary confinement. His GoFundMe campaign, titled "Help Eddie...