Jamaica Launches Controversial US-Backed Deportee Transit Program

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The first flight carrying third-country nationals from the United States landed in Jamaica on Tuesday, marking the implementation of a contentious bilateral agreement that positions the Caribbean nation as a temporary transit hub for deportees.

These agreements, which face potential legal challenges from the Supreme Court, have expanded under the Trump administration, with migrants previously sent to Liberia, Eswatini, and Paraguay.

A group of 22 adults, including seven women, were processed at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport and transported under police escort to an undisclosed location.

Jamaican authorities emphasize procedures designed to ensure the arrangement’s “safe, orderly, and lawful” implementation.

The agreement, formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed in June, routes non-Jamaican migrants through the island before transferring them to their home countries or other destinations.

While passenger manifests and arrival times remain confidential, local sources suggest the initial cohort included many South Americans. The Jamaican government has confirmed a cap of 25 deportees per fortnight.

The Ministry of National Security and Peace and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade reiterated assurances about the deal’s parameters on Tuesday.

“The government reiterates that this is a transit arrangement intended to facilitate the return of Third Country Nationals to their country of origin or other receiving countries, with the support of the IOM (International Organization for Migration),” the joint statement read.

“The arrangement will not be funded by the Government of Jamaica,” the release stated, adding that “no third-country national with criminal antecedents will be permitted to transit through Jamaica.”

The ministries emphasized transparency and adherence to international standards.

Under the framework, the IOM manages housing and logistics via its Assisted Voluntary Return program.

Public concerns over logistics have persisted since June, when the Ministry of National Security dismissed claims that migrants would be housed in St. Mary, clarifying that such arrangements are exclusively the IOM’s responsibility.

Despite assurances, the rollout has triggered political opposition. Critics, including opposition figures like Fitz Jackson and Mark Golding, argue negotiations bypassed Parliament and key details remain undisclosed.

“Jamaicans are being asked to trust a secret document that touches their security, their communities, and their public services,” Jackson stated, accusing officials of “blatant contempt” by not tabling the MOU in Parliament.

Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith responded on X, asserting the agreement was negotiated with Jamaica’s interests in mind and found “nothing prejudicial,” though the U.S. has refused to make the document public.

Skepticism extends beyond politics. Bishop Alvin Bailey of a local evangelical alliance questioned why the U.S. could not deport individuals directly, expressing distrust in government assurances.

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