This is definitely the wrong way to try to gain entry into a country.
Back on December 23rd, Jamaica resident Cleon Harden had flown from Panama to Cancun. While he was going through Customs, something went awry and during his second interview with Immigration, he was told he wasn’t going to be allowed in (reports from local entities say he “didn’t meet the requirements” but initially didn’t specify what requirements they were).
Harden’s response was to trash the place. Here’s one of the videos that circulated after the fact. Heads up that it contains adult language:
#VIDEO 🔴 | Circulan imágenes de extranjero causando destrozos en las oficinas de Migración en la Terminal 3 del aeropuerto de #Cancún.
đź“ą SIPSE pic.twitter.com/7G9KDO3W82
— Novedades de Quintana Roo (@novedadesqroo) January 5, 2023
In the video, Harden can be seen breaking the glass windows of the airport’s immigration office. He then leaves the vicinity with a piece of glass or metal in his hand, saying to the officials, “give me my f**king passport.”
There were other people in the room with Harden, including at least one child. They all quickly ran away from the area when the man began having his meltdown. The only people who stayed relatively close to him were the immigration officials, but even they kept a safe distance since he had the sharp object in his hand.
The National Institute of Migration’s report said:
The events were recorded on December 23, 2022, when the man arrived at the INM’s second review area at the air facilities, to explain the reasons that prevented his entry into national territory, but he responded with an inappropriate attitude and on repeated occasions. He hit the glass of the room until it broke.
Once Harden left the immigration room area, he ran, still with the sharp weapon in his hand, in an attempt to flee the airport. However, a combination of federal immigration agents and National Guard members managed to safely take away the glass/metal from his hand, and apprehend him. No one was injured from the incident.
Harden was detained overnight in Cancun, after which time he was escorted by two immigration agents back to Panama on December 24th. From there he traveled back to Jamaica on Christmas Day.
Jamaica’s Ambassador in Mexico, Sharon F. Saunders, confirmed that an investigation begun immediately.
“It has now been confirmed by the Mexican Immigration authorities that the incident took place at the Cancun International Airport. The man in the video is confirmed to be a Jamaican national. It was confirmed that the Jamaican arrived at the aforementioned airport claiming to be a tourist. However, due to inappropriate behavior, disrespect to authority and inconsistencies in the first interview, he was sent to do a second interview,” Saunders said.
The ambassador also clarified that Harden, “responded in an inappropriate and violent manner” during the second interview, which then led to his denial of entry.
“Due to the inconsistencies in both interviews, Mexican immigration deemed him not to be a genuine tourist,” she said.
Harden, a laborer, had been deported from England for a similar incident of misconduct about 11 years ago.
Like I said, definitely the wrong way to try to gain entry into a country.
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