Buju Banton is back in the United States after being deported in 2018 and on Sunday evening, Banton called in to New York’s 107.5 WBLS to officially announce his first stage show in New York at the UBS Arena on July 13. In the interview, the “Champion” singer shouted, “Me get the visa,” with a hearty laugh and excitement as he requested that radio personality Dahved Levy open the lines so he could talk with fans who wished to call in.
“Buss up the line” he said. Many people in the reggae community have been questioning how did Buju manage to pull off such a move.
Immigration Attorney Sekou Clarke says he has been receiving several requests to answer questions about Buju’s visa reinstatement and he took to TikTok to explain how the reggae superstar returned to the US after being convicted on drug-related charges, spending eight years in an Atlanta prison, and being deported in 2018.
Clarke said, “The number one thing that every single immigration attorney will tell you is that he got a non-immigrant visa waiver, which means it’s a temporary visa such as a work visa to enter the US, but he got a waiver.”
The United States has a form I-212 visa waiver program that allows such aliens (citizens of foreign countries) to seek consent from the United States government to apply for lawful re-admission to the United States after having been deported or removed.
“Why did he (Buju) need a waiver?” Clarke asked, then proceeded to speculate in the video, “Typically, the average offender would not get approved, but guess what, Buju has won a Grammy, he is high profile, and he probably has really good character witnesses, people who can say he is going to be extremely beneficial and of no harm to the United States.”
The other two possible ways Buju Banton, real name Mark Myrie, could use to get permission to re-enter the US, Clarke explains, “He got some type of pardon, which is possible.”
In his final analysis, Clarke admits may be an unpopular opinion option, but says it is a legal basis for someone who is a Jamaican citizen, to get a US visa. It relates to how useful the person is in solving ongoing cases in the US court system. “He may have gotten an S-visa. Typically, an S-visa is if you are a witness to some type of major crime or you are cooperating with the US government to prosecute somebody.”
As a Jamaican Buju Banton is required to have an O visa to perform at a concert.
The Orlando-based attorney says although these are all possible ways, he does not know for sure what route the Gargamel would have taken to secure his work visa to be back in the US and touring but those are the possible options. Clarke also admits that he has never seen any ‘regular person’ get approved with drug related charges as Buju and he says he has stopped taking clients with similar situations.
@attorneysekou Replying to @kemoy_kayan Navigating the complexities of immigration law, especially regarding individuals with past legal issues, requires understanding various pathways for reentry into the US. Buju Banton’s case sheds light on options such as non-immigrant visa waivers, pardons, and S visas, each with its own considerations and challenges. As an immigration attorney, I’ve witnessed firsthand the intricacies involved in such cases, recognizing the importance of legal expertise and strategic planning in facilitating successful returns. Call Sekou Clarke Law Group today 📱 (407) 295-2138 #immigration #immigrationlawyer #sekouclarkelawgroup #sekouclarke #immigrationattorney #unitedstates #visa #visas #greencard #studentvisa #trump #immigrationlaws #immigrant #permanentresidency #workpermit #usa #businessvisa #daca #vawa #asylum #border #latinos #jamaica #asia #europe #latinamerica #law #lawyer #attorney #bujubanton
Another immigration attorney who is popular on TikTok Brad Bernstein added his two cents to Buju’s visa reinstatement saying; “Buju Banton probably got a non-immigrant visa waiver” adding that his Grammy win for Before The Dawn could possibly play a role in making his case for the waiver.
Since his release from prison in 2018, Buju Banton signed a record deal with Island Records and Roc Nation and released two albums, “Upside Down 2020” and “Born For Greatness.”
Roc Nation is an affiliate of the biggest touring company in America, Live Nation, which was formed in partnership with Jay-Z in 2008. Roc Nation has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, and London, and their high-profile clients include Rihanna, Shakira, and J. Cole, along with a music label, publishing, touring, and film/TV division.
Along with Jay-Z, the Roc Nation is run by Jay Brown and Desiree Perez who are vice Chairman and CEO respectively. The majority shareholder of Live Nation is billionaire John Malone’s Liberty Media (30%), which in turn owns Formula One Group, Sirius XM, and Live Nation Entertainment. Liberty Latin America group of companies is the owner of Cable and Wireless Ltd, owners of the Caribbean’s telephone and cable company Flow.
