Fijians lose fight to stay in U.S.

LYNNWOOD – Some members of an extended Fijian family who faced deportation have been sent back to their native country.

Eight adults and five children departed Tuesday, said Mike Milne, a spokesman for the Seattle office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which carries out deportations.

Milne said those sent back to Fiji were Josaia Gucake; his brother, Savaneca Gucake; Atama and Sivoki Nawaciono; Adi and Jona Yacatini; Gade Tuioneata; and Marica Vosailagi.

He would not give the names of the five children who left with the adults. Josaia Gucake and his wife, Grace, had three daughters who had said they were to be deported: Adi, 16; Liku, 13; and Roko, 10. Their cousins also were scheduled to leave, they said.

Family members could not be reached by phone. The children left their homes Tuesday morning, said Marama Rakaria, a friend who was staying at the Lynnwood home where several members of the family lived.

Two other adults who were supposed to leave did not show up for deportation and will be sought by authorities, Milne said. He would not disclose their names.

Josaia and Grace Gucake were arrested Oct. 6 and were held in Tacoma pending deportation. Grace Gucake’s name was not on the list of people deported.

While here, Josaia Gucake, 47, became senior pastor at Christ Faith Tabernacle Church in Lynnwood, a church attended by a number of Fijians. Grace Gucake worked as a home caregiver, family members said.

A fund-raising event was held Friday to help the family pay their moving expenses, said Vicki Clark, a counselor at College Place Middle School, where one of the children was enrolled. About $1,500 was raised, she said.

Family members said Josaia Gucake had been a senator in the South Pacific island nation and his life was endangered after a military coup in 2000. They said they were afraid of what would happen if they returned to the country. U.S. immigration officials would not discuss details of Josaia Gucake’s case.

In the coup, the military held the ruling party hostage in Parliament buildings in Suva, the capital, for 51 days, said Cheryl Brown, second secretary at the Fijian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Josaia Gucake was not one of those held hostage, she said. Several people were killed in the coup, she said.

The family may have little to worry about in Fiji, based on comments made by Nirmal Singh, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Suva. Shortly after the coup, the military handed power back to civilians and there is now a democratically elected government, Singh said.

“There has not been any politically motivated killing,” he said. “Everything is back to normal. It’s like any other democracy at the moment.”

Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Everett Historic Theater owner Curtis Shriner inside the theater on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

With expected new ownership, events for July and August will be canceled. The schedule for the fall and beyond is unclear.

Contributed photo from Snohomish County Public Works
Snohomish County Public Works contractor crews have begun their summer 2016 paving work on 13 miles of roadway, primarily in the Monroe and Stanwood areas. This photo is an example of paving work from a previous summer. A new layer of asphalt is put down over the old.
Snohomish County plans to resurface about 76 miles of roads this summer

EVERETT – As part of its annual road maintenance and preservation program,… Continue reading

City of Everett Engineer Tom Hood, left, and City of Everett Engineer and Project Manager Dan Enrico, right, talks about the current Edgewater Bridge demolition on Friday, May 9, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How do you get rid of a bridge? Everett engineers can explain.

Workers began dismantling the old Edgewater Bridge on May 2. The process could take one to two months, city engineers said.

Smoke from the Bolt Creek fire silhouettes a mountain ridge and trees just outside of Index on Sept. 12, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County will host two wildfire-preparedness meetings in May

Meetings will allow community members to learn wildfire mitigation strategies and connect with a variety of local and state agencies.

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Vehicles travel along Mukilteo Speedway on Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Mukilteo cameras go live to curb speeding on Speedway

Starting Friday, an automated traffic camera system will cover four blocks of Mukilteo Speedway. A 30-day warning period is in place.

Carli Brockman lets her daughter Carli, 2, help push her ballot into the ballot drop box on the Snohomish County Campus on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Here’s who filed for the primary election in Snohomish County

Positions with three or more candidates will go to voters Aug. 5 to determine final contenders for the Nov. 4 general election.

Sound Transit approves contract to build Bothell bus facility

The 365,000-square-foot facility will be the heart of the agency’s new Stride bus rapid transit system, set to open in 2028.

One dead in Everett crash involving motorcycle and two vehicles

Police shut down the 10300 block of Evergreen Way in both directions during the multi-vehicle collision investigation.

Katie Wallace, left, checks people into the first flight from Paine Field to Honolulu on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Executive order makes way for Paine Field expansion planning

Expansion would be a long-range project estimated to cost around $300 million.

A person pauses to look at an art piece during the Schack Art Center’s 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett to seek Creative District designation

The city hopes to grow jobs in the creative sector and access new grant funds through the state label.

Former Herald writer Melissa Slager’s new book was 14-year project

The 520-page historical novel “Contests of Strength” covers the 1700 earthquake and tsunami on Makah lands.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.