JAMAICAN BASKETBALLER Gavin Grant, a sophomore at North Carolina State University, faces deportation back to the island after United States Federal immigration officials determined he is in the country illegally.
Grant, 20, could face deportation after a hearing in federal immigration court in Atlanta, Sue Brown, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), told The News & Observer of Raleigh.
NO DETAILS AVAILABLE
She said she had neither specifics on the hearing date for Grant nor details on the amount of bond on which he was released.
"We do know after the interview that it was determined that he was in this country without inspection, which means he did not come with a visitor's visa or anything like that," Brown said.
Tom O'Connell, ICE resident agent in charge in Cary, North Carolina, told the newspaper that Grant was interviewed in Raleigh early last week. He said he understood that Grant entered the US from Jamaica after his mother did. Grant has lived in the U.S. since at least 1994, O'Connell said.
Deportation isn't the only possible outcome for Grant, a key reserve on last year's Wolfpack basketball team, which reached the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament. He was expected to assume a starting role this season.
VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE
Another option was voluntary departure, where Grant would leave the country on his own and then apply to return, O'Connell said.
An NC State official said the school expected Grant to be at practice tomorrow. He remains on the team, on scholarship, and plans to play this season. His immigration status has been under discussion for weeks.
The 6'7" forward averaged 4.2 points and 2.4 rebounds as a freshman.
