Guyanese Social Media Activist Melissa Atwell-Holder Granted Bond

NEW YORK, New York –  Guyanese social media activist, Melissa “Melly-Mel” Atwell-Holder, was on Friday granted a US$7,5000 bond after being detained earlier this month, pending her deportation to her homeland.

Melissa Atwell-Holder (far right) appeared in court on FridayJudge Mwangi Francis granted the bond, pending the further processing of her immigration status given that she is married to a US citizen.

The Department of Immigration’s Principal Legal Adviser said her status has been a verified and did not oppose bail. The   Department also indicated that she was not a flight risk or a risk to the United States.

Melly Mel, who appeared in court wearing a brown jumpsuit and holding a book, was visibly shaking her head throughout the proceedings. Her attorney, Joyce Booth, said her client had  entered the United States in 2022 and later married and American citizen and had been living in New York, for the past two years.

The lawyer said that her client has no criminal history, is not considered a threat, and is not a flight risk.

“This is a regular case of overstaying,” Booth said.

Judge Francis said Atwell=Holder would be released on payment of the bond and that she could continue with her adjustment of status application.

“If that’s not approved, then the Department (of Immigration and Customs Enforcement) may see you in the future, maybe not,” she said. Her case has been transferred to a court in New York if there are to be removal proceedings in the future.

An online fund-raiser has accumulated almost US$40,000 to support  Atwell-Holder.

Earlier this month, the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) in Guyana had said that  “political power” had been used to detain  Atwell-Holder.

PNCR and Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton told a public meeting  that an international campaign would be started to help ensure the release of Atwell-Holder, who has been in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Norton blamed the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration for Atwell-Holder’s arrest because she had exposed government crime and corruption.

He said efforts to silence US-based critics started when the government attempted to issue a summons to Rickford Burke in New York last year.

But Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall has dismissed allegations that the Irfaan Ali government played a hand in securing the detention of the social media activist.

“It has nothing to do with the government of Guyana,” Nandlall said, adding “this is a matter of US law enforcement handling immigration violations, not anything related to Guyana’s government”.

He said those protesting in Guyana should be directing their frustrations towards the United States government, not the Guyana government.