Three Jamaican Women to Be Deported Tomorrow for Overstaying
The women remain in immigration detention after a St. John’s magistrate ordered their removal.
Tomorrow, three Jamaican women are scheduled to be deported from Antigua and Barbuda after a court ordered their removal for overstaying the time granted by the Immigration Department.
Shantel Haynes, 24, Jova Gordon, 23, and Sophia Bonnick, 50, appeared before a St. John’s magistrate on Monday to answer charges of overstaying.
The court issued removal notices after hearing that the women had remained in the country without legal permission.
This story was first published by Antigua News on : antigua.news/2026/09/30/three-jamaican-women-to-be-deported-tomorrow-for-overstaying. © 2026 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.

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Comments (9)
Smh September 30, 2026, 6:14 AM
Them Jamaicans again?
ReplyWTF? September 30, 2026, 6:54 AM
I don't give a shit,, 'bout "overstaying" After, you've run afoul of our laws,,, ie. steal a car,, caught with a gun, break into a home.. steal a cellphone,,I then expect,, not a 1735 stint, where taxpayers are on the hook,, but deported Nevaa to Evaa return.
ReplyThomas September 30, 2026, 7:13 AM
taking persons to court for over staying they time is just taking up court time that could use to start criminal cases. overstaying your time is not a criminal offense, it is basic immigration matter and the immigration authorities should be empowered under law to deal with those matters. the attorney general need to take a bill to parliament to amend the immigration act to give the immigration authority the power to treat with matters of over staying and any basic immigration matters that is deem not to be criminal. these hearings can be done at the immigration department by special inquiries officers, establish under law to treat with basic immigration matters, if a person is before the magistrate court on a criminal charge and find guilty, then court can decide if they are to be deported after serving time. we should be arresting our Caricom national, have them cells at the police station sometimes for days before taking to court for overstaying time if they is no criminal offense attach. its ashamed.
ReplyLawrd September 30, 2026, 11:45 AM
Immigration matter not court change the law
ReplyMarsha J September 30, 2026, 1:17 PM
Three women overstay and straight to court? 😩 So immigration department can’t deal with this without the whole court business? Dem court already full up with serious cases. If your time done, your time done send you back and let the magistrate deal with REAL criminal matters. We making simple things complicated in this country oui. 🤦🏽♀️
Replyinformed citizen September 30, 2026, 1:19 PM
Wait nah… somebody tell me this make sense 😂 You overstay your permission and now taxpayer money paying police, detention, court and all kinda thing just to say “you have to leave”?? Boy, we does make life hard for ourselves! Immigration need more power to deal with these straightforward cases instead of running everything through court.
ReplyLisa September 30, 2026, 1:40 PM
Why we discriminating against Jamaicans when other nationalities forming the ahsss in Antigusa same way?
ReplyHetty Otto September 30, 2026, 3:59 PM
I totally agree with this comment. Certain Immigration officers should be appointed to conduct hearings under the immigration act and issue either departure or deportation orders. However, this requires parliamentary consent. There is a process, and only certain Immigration Officers will be appointed to carry out Hearings on overstays and minor infraction of the Immigration Act.
ReplyName September 30, 2026, 5:52 PM
I hope they send back the Spanish too when they overstay. Because we're infested.
Reply