Chang says US deportees not coming to stay

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace, Dr Horace Chang, is clarifying that Jamaica is not opening its borders for a controlled migration programme of US deportees.

Chang made the disclosure after news broke that Jamaica had offered to accept non-nationals being deported from the US. The Gleaner reported that talks were expected to begin on an agreement that could see more than 10,000 non-Jamaicans being deported. Chang, in a statement, assured the public that the safety and security of citizens and all people in Jamaica, as well as Jamaica’s obligations under international law guided every step of the discussions on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the country and the US regarding third country nationals (TCNs).

“These are nationals of other countries other than Jamaica who are being facilitated through a structured process to transit through Jamaica to a third territory, including return to their home countries,” he said. Chang said that at no point did Jamaica compromise its sovereignty.

“This is an MOU and not a binding agreement and does not come into effect until the completion of agreed pre-implementation requirements, including the finalisation of operational guidelines and procedures,” he said. “It also does not create an automatic obligation for Jamaica to accept any individual, and either country retains the ability to terminate the arrangement.”

Chang said the US has indicated that it will support all costs associated with the transfer process and related arrangements. Regarding the number of deportees, Chang said the 10,000 figure “does not represent an agreed quota or commitment under the MOU”. 

“The process will be controlled and phased. While the understanding contemplates transfers of up to 25 individuals every two weeks, this is subject to an important operational safeguard,” he said. “Where the number of individuals pending transfer or remaining in Jamaica exceeds a threshold of 10 persons, the process will be paused until conditions are reviewed and normalised. This is to ensure that there is no more than 10 TCNs remaining in Jamaica within any 30-day window.”