Jamaica’s foreign minister said nine more people transferred under its third-country arrangement with the United States had left the island. Ten departures have now been reported. Kamina Johnson Smith also said Jamaica’s agreement excludes people with criminal records apart from immigration offences, responding to concerns prompted by a broader US statement about such agreements.
Jamaican Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith said on October 28 that nine more third-country nationals transferred from the United States had left the island the previous day. An earlier announcement had reported one departure, bringing the total to ten. Eleven people remained at different stages of arrangements to leave, while another had asked to stay in Jamaica.[1], [2]
Johnson Smith said Jamaica’s negotiated agreement excludes people with criminal records other than breaches of US immigration law, including unlawful entry. She described those transferred as people transiting Jamaica after entering the United States irregularly. According to the minister, American and Jamaican authorities both vet individuals before they arrive on the island. Her explanation addressed the eligibility rules of Jamaica’s own arrangement.[1], [2]
The minister was responding to concerns after the US Department of Homeland Security issued a general statement on Tuesday about third-country agreements. The department said such arrangements had enabled removals of people convicted of serious offences, including murder, rape and drug trafficking. Johnson Smith said some countries had accepted those individuals but Jamaica was not among them. She gave the departure update at a post-Cabinet briefing.[1]
