A group of 42 Haitian nationals, including men, women, children, and an expectant mother in the later stages of pregnancy, were repatriated from the Boundbrook wharf in Port Antonio on Monday night, just a day after they arrived by boat on a remote beach in Ross Craig, Portland.
The group, which had journeyed across the Caribbean Sea in a 20-foot sailboat, landed near Long Bay around 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 19. According to reports, the rugged beach was the point of entry for the desperate migrants fleeing turmoil in their home country.
Another group of Haitian migrants, previously housed in a facility in St. Mary for an extended period, is also expected to be repatriated soon, according to local authorities.
Their removal comes amid growing concern from rights groups over Jamaica’s treatment of asylum seekers. On Monday, migrant rights organization Freedom Imaginaries issued a press release urging the Jamaican government to halt the expulsion and ensure the Haitians receive access to a fair and effective asylum process.
The group emphasized that the escalating crisis in Haiti—driven by surging gang violence and deepening humanitarian distress—has displaced over one million people and claimed more than 5,600 lives in 2024 alone. “The crisis is landing hardest on women and children, who face systematic practices of sexual violence and make up over half of the displaced population,” the statement read.
Founder and human rights attorney Malene Alleyne appealed to Jamaican authorities to provide adequate shelter and legal consideration for the migrants. “International law leaves no room for doubt: the forced return of individuals to a place where they may face risk of persecution, torture, or other serious or irreparable harm constitutes refoulement, which is strictly prohibited under international refugee and human rights law,” Alleyne said.
Despite these appeals, Jamaica’s Ministry of National Security confirmed that repatriation arrangements were made, and the group was sent back to Haiti on Monday night.
The swift return of the migrants has sparked renewed debate over the Caribbean island’s responsibilities under international human rights conventions and its capacity to handle the growing number of Haitians fleeing worsening conditions at home.
