Jamaica Negotiates with US to Accept Third-Country Migrants Amid Regional Diplomatic Shifts

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaica is currently engaged in negotiations with the United States to accept deportees from third countries, a move that would align the island with several other Caribbean nations collaborating with the US administration on immigration policies.
Jamaica’s National Security Minister, Dr. Horace Chang, confirmed on Tuesday that a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the US Department of Homeland Security. This agreement would allow Jamaica to receive up to 25 non-Jamaican nationals every two weeks.
Minister Chang noted that these individuals would not be held in detention, though specific housing arrangements are still being finalized and compensation terms remain under negotiation.
If completed, Jamaica would join nations such as Mexico, El Salvador, and Uganda in accepting migrants deported from the US to third countries.
The proposal has faced immediate criticism from the opposition People’s National Party (PNP), which has accused the current administration of failing to maintain transparency regarding these negotiations.
The PNP expressed concerns that accepting foreign nationals could jeopardize Jamaica’s internal security, international reputation, and social infrastructure.
“Jamaicans deserve to know whether discussions have taken place and whether any commitments or understandings have been reached,” stated Donna Scott Mottley, spokesperson for the opposition.
Addressing the concerns, Chang emphasized that while Jamaica is legally obligated under international law to accept its own citizens, this new arrangement is distinct. “This is not about dumping third-country nationals on our shores; it is a structured and managed process to transit individuals to their final destinations,” he clarified, distinguishing between the repatriation of Jamaican nationals and the processing of foreign citizens.
The US Department of Homeland Security has not yet commented on the matter.
Growing Regional Divergence
As part of an intensified immigration enforcement strategy, the US has utilized various agreements to deport over 19,000 individuals to third countries, according to data from Third Country Deportation Watch. These reports suggest some individuals are being sent to nations they have no prior connection to.
While Mexico remains the primary destination for many deportees, over 1,500 individuals have been relocated to more than 20 other countries, many of which are developing nations in Latin America and Africa.
The diplomatic landscape in Kingston reflects a wider fragmentation across the Caribbean, where several governments have entered into various agreements with Washington to mitigate potential economic or travel-related penalties.
The Dominican Republic has signed a non-binding agreement to temporarily house a limited number of non-criminal third-country nationals, while specifically excluding unaccompanied minors and Haitian nationals—a decision that has also drawn significant scrutiny.
Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, described a similar arrangement as a “pragmatic step” intended to maintain vital bilateral relations with the US, while noting that violent offenders would be refused.
Antigua and Barbuda has implemented a highly restrictive, case-by-case framework, with Prime Minister Gaston Browne confirming a cap of 10 non-criminal individuals.
In contrast, Guyana is using these negotiations to address significant labor shortages resulting from its oil boom, exploring a US-supported framework to accept skilled, non-criminal migrants to fill an estimated deficit of 80,000 workers.
Human rights advocates continue to highlight the humanitarian risks of these policies, citing the case of Orville Etoria. Etoria, a Jamaican citizen who lived in the US for nearly 50 years, was deported to Eswatini in July 2025 following the revocation of his green card. Upon arrival, Etoria and others were detained without due process at the Matsapha Correctional Complex. It took two months of intensive diplomatic efforts by the Jamaican government before Etoria was successfully repatriated.
Although a US federal district court ruled the third-country removal policy unlawful in February 2026—stating the US cannot deport migrants to undesignated nations without proper notice—the policy remains in effect pending appellate review.

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