Recently, there was a controversy surrounding a piece in The New Yorker about a convicted murderer and illegal immigrant, Orville Etria, who was deported from the U.S. under the Trump administration. Etria, originally from Jamaica, is 62 years old and was one of five individuals sent to Africa as part of a broader deportation initiative.
His story appeared in a lengthy feature just shortly after the Department of Homeland Security criticized a similar article in the New York Times, calling it “shameful and disgusting.” In this New Yorker piece, Etria was quoted expressing that being transported “in shackles and chains” made him reflect on the experiences of slaves, without delving into his violent past, which includes murder and other serious offenses.
This prompted criticism on social media, with one user pointing out, “You forgot to mention he’s not a U.S. citizen and spent 25 years in prison for murder.” Additional notes in the article clarified that Etria had committed multiple felonies—like armed robbery—and lost his lawful permanent residency status because of his convictions.
Etria arrived in the U.S. as a child, but his life took a serious turn after he fatally shot someone during a robbery in 1996, leading to a lengthy prison sentence. He was released in 2021 before being deported earlier this year. The DHS reported that he had a history of arrests for various serious crimes, raising questions about the portrayal of Etria in the New Yorker.
Some individuals argued that the magazine presented him in a too sympathetic manner, citing comments from a relative who claimed, “Orville is not a monster.” This ignited heated exchanges online, with one remarking, “It’s murder. He literally killed someone.” The mixed reactions reflect the complexity of public sentiment on such issues.
Interestingly, this response to The New Yorker’s piece echoes earlier backlash against the New York Times, which was similarly criticized for its framing of Etria’s story. In response to past reports, DHS emphasized the administration’s commitment to deporting criminal illegal immigrants, stating clearly that such individuals are unwelcome in the U.S. The critique highlights an ongoing debate regarding media representation of crime and immigration, as well as the broader societal implications.
The Post reached out to DHS for comments regarding the New Yorker article, but no response was forthcoming at the time.
