10 of 22 third-country nationals have departed Jamaica, says minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith
Key Points(5)
- Ten of the 22 individuals who arrived in Jamaica earlier this month under the Third Country Nationals (TCN) arrangement with the United States have departed the island, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith has said.
- Johnson Smith provided the update during Wednesday's (Oct.
- 28) Post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House, noting that one individual had requested to remain in Jamaica, while discussions continue with the others regarding their departure.
- The arrangement follows a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the governments of Jamaica and the United States earlier this year to facilitate the temporary reception of individuals in Jamaica before their return to their countries of origin.
- The transit program, supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), provides assistance to the individuals during their stay and facilitates their onward movement.
Ten of the 22 individuals who arrived in Jamaica earlier this month under the Third Country Nationals (TCN) arrangement with the United States have departed the island, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith has said.
Johnson Smith provided the update during Wednesday's (Oct. 28) Post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House, noting that one individual had requested to remain in Jamaica, while discussions continue with the others regarding their departure.
The arrangement follows a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the governments of Jamaica and the United States earlier this year to facilitate the temporary reception of individuals in Jamaica before their return to their countries of origin.
The transit program, supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), provides assistance to the individuals during their stay and facilitates their onward movement.
The agreement limits the number of people expected to arrive to no more than 25 every two weeks.
Johnson Smith reiterated that individuals with criminal histories would not be permitted to transit through Jamaica under the arrangement.
“Our country has negotiated arrangements whereby persons with criminal antecedents will not be sent to Jamaica. And what do I mean? Other than having broken the United States immigration laws, that is, having illegally entered the US, they are not criminals. Those are the persons who are sent to transit Jamaica,” she said.
She added that individuals are vetted by both the United States and Jamaica before being allowed to enter the island.
The MOU also provides for the suspension of the arrangement if 10 individuals apply to remain in Jamaica through asylum applications or other humanitarian processes.
