The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN green card holder who has lived in the United States for nearly 50 years is facing deportation after US authorities said an investigation found he illegally voted in the 2020 presidential election despite a criminal record that includes armed robbery, domestic violence and assaulting a police officer.

Anthony Tyrone Higgs was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Decatur, Georgia, on September 3 and remains in the custody of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, according to the US Department of Homeland Security.

Higgs was admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident in October 1976, but DHS said it has placed him in removal proceedings to revoke that status because of his criminal convictions.

Authorities said his record includes two convictions for possession of a weapon during a violent crime, two counts of grand larceny, armed robbery with a deadly weapon, criminal domestic violence, assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.

The case took on an additional dimension after Homeland Security Investigations said an August investigation determined that Higgs had illegally voted in the 2020 election.

His arrest comes as the Trump administration intensifies efforts targeting non-citizens accused of voting in US elections.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin described Higgs as a “criminal alien” with a record of violent offences.

“On top of all of that,” Mr Mullin said, “he illegally voted in the 2020 election.”

“If even one non-citizen votes in our elections,” he said, “it cancels out the vote of an American citizen.”

Mr Mullin said Higgs would be removed from the country and would no longer be able to interfere in US elections.

White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis also told Fox News Digital that Higgs had forfeited his right to remain in the United States because of his criminal conduct and the illegal vote.

“This alien was a guest in our country,” Ms Bis said, “who forfeited his right to be in the US when he committed these violent crimes and voted in the 2020 election.”

She said non-citizens who vote illegally would be arrested and removed from the country.

Higgs’ arrest comes as The Bahamas continues to receive citizens deported from the United States.

Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said last month that 140 Bahamians were deported between January and August.

Thirty were returned in January, 14 in February, 30 in March, 18 in April, 14 in May, 14 in June, two in July and 18 in August.

January and March recorded the highest monthly totals, with 30 deportees each.

Higgs remains in ICE custody while his case proceeds through the US immigration system.