News Source Guyana Reports | After nearly three decades of struggling to reclaim his U.S. citizenship, Guyanese-born Orin Battice received the joyful news that his citizenship was restored, thanks to the dedicated efforts of his legal team at The Braithwaite and Primo Law Group.
Originally from Guyana, Battice was raised in the United States and faced a tumultuous journey after being deported in 1997. His long legal struggle finally came to an end in late November when his successful application was processed by the U.S. Embassy in Guyana, solidifying his status as a U.S. citizen once again. His passport was issued in late 2025, marking a significant milestone for Battice after years marked by legal challenges and emotional upheaval.
“I feel excited and ecstatic. It has been a long time, 28 years,” Battice exclaimed during a recent visit to the law office, reflecting on the lengthy ordeal.
Born to Sheila Hildaguard-Battice and Joseph Battice in Guyana, Orin’s life changed dramatically after his father’s death in 1966, prompting his mother to migrate to the United States. She remarried and successfully petitioned for her son to join her in New York. Battice arrived in the U.S. in 1976 as a teenager, living there continuously for over two decades.
In 1977, Battice automatically derived U.S. citizenship through his mother, who became a naturalized citizen. However, in 1997, he was deported after a criminal conviction, a decision that Battice believed was unjust given his citizenship status.
Throughout his years of deportation, Battice remained resilient, striving to rebuild his life in Guyana while feeling disconnected from his family in the U.S. His new attorney, Dwayne Braithwaite, emphasized that this triumph is not only personal but also highlights the vital role of tenacious legal representation in the pursuit of justice.
Braithwaite, licensed to practice in both the U.S. and Guyana, took on Battice’s case after previous attempts to rectify his legal status failed. Under Braithwaite’s guidance, a thorough two-year investigation was launched, focusing on documents dating back to the 1960s, including birth certificates and naturalization records. The culmination of their efforts resulted in a comprehensive submission to the U.S. Embassy in May 2024.
After an interview with Battice, the embassy placed the matter under “administrative review.” Finally, in late November 2025, Battice’s long wait ended with the confirmation of his citizenship and the issuance of his U.S. passport.
Attorney Braithwaite, initially puzzled by the deportation of a man he believed to be a U.S. citizen, emphasized the importance of thorough legal representation. “Once the documents were secured, we analyzed them carefully and submitted a comprehensive application to the U.S. Embassy,” he noted.
He reiterated that effective representation is critical. “The law was always on Mr. Battice’s side; the failure was in the representation he previously received,” Braithwaite stated.
Battice has now returned to the United States, ready to rebuild the life he was separated from for almost thirty years. Expressing gratitude to his legal team, he is eager to close this painful chapter and embrace the opportunities ahead as a proud American citizen once more.
