Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, has revealed a growing trend of undocumented Jamaicans in the U.S. reaching out to the embassy to voluntarily return home rather than face deportation.
Speaking at the Let’s Connect Diaspora Town Hall meeting, Marks addressed concerns about increased deportations under the Trump administration. She clarified that there has been no significant surge in deportations to Jamaica but noted an uptick in Jamaicans taking proactive steps to leave before being forcibly removed.
“Some people do not want the indignity of being deported, so where they are out of status, they are reaching out to take steps to return to Jamaica,” said the Ambassador. “There are persons voluntarily saying that they want to return home.”
Marks also outlined the screening measures in place to verify the identity of individuals being deported to Jamaica. She explained that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers must present valid identification to the Jamaican embassy, where individuals undergo thorough verification before receiving landing documents. This process is necessary due to instances of non-Jamaicans falsely claiming Jamaican nationality, sometimes even obtaining Jamaican passports fraudulently.
Additionally, the Ministry of National Security has established a protocol to assess individuals returned by ICE. Marks stressed that while some Jamaicans in deportation proceedings have waived their right to due process to expedite their return home, not all deportees have criminal records.
“Not everyone who is deported has committed a crime, and so we have to be careful how we assess them,” she cautioned.
The heightened immigration enforcement in the U.S. has sparked concern among undocumented Jamaicans, with some experiencing panic, according to Marks. However, she urged calm, pointing out that around 60 percent of Jamaicans who enter the U.S. legally but later overstay are not immediately flagged by ICE.
For those seeking legal advice, Marks highlighted that Jamaican diplomatic missions across the U.S. have compiled a list of attorneys that nationals can contact for assistance.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has ramped up efforts to identify and remove undocumented immigrants. ICE data indicates that over 5,000 Jamaicans are among the 1.4 million noncitizens in the U.S. who have been ordered deported.
Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, acknowledged in a statement that deportees fall into different categories. While some have been convicted of violent crimes, others have committed only immigration infractions and have otherwise been law-abiding, employed residents.
In response, Jamaica’s National Security Council is conducting a thorough risk assessment to gauge the potential impact of deportations, particularly concerning individuals with serious criminal records.
“From a citizen security perspective, as a Government, we are particularly concerned about the anticipated increased return of individuals with serious criminal backgrounds,” Johnson Smith stated. “The National Security Council is therefore rigorously assessing associated risks and is actively engaged in formulating strategies to mitigate potential threats to public safety. Ensuring the security of all Jamaicans remains our highest priority.”
