The Gambia government has urged the Trump administration to temporarily free all Gambians in US jails and detention centres amid spread of the coronavirus. 

The US has by far the largest number of coronavirus cases, with more than one million confirmed infections, according to figures collated by John Hopkins University. The US also has the world’s highest death toll, with the number of fatalities approaching 60,000.

America’s jails and prisons have become epicentres in the coronavirus pandemic. 

The minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr Mamadou Tangara, said the government is engaging their US counterparts for all Gambians to be temporarily freed amid the coronavirus crisis. 

“My ministry is currently engaging our Mission in Washington to appeal to the US authorities based on humanitarian grounds for Gambian nationals who are under the custody of the Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) of the United States of America to be temporarily released until such time the threat of COVID-19 has been substantially reduced,” Dr Tangara recently told the National Assembly. 

Dr. Tangara confirmed that two Gambians in New York have already died from the coronavirus.

He said the deaths were sad and regrettable.

The deadly coronavirus spreading in the US posed a unique threat to institutions crowded with people: prisons, shelters and immigration detention centres. 

Over 61 people in the custody of ICE had tested positive for the coronavirus.