22 third-country nationals in Jamaica under IOM care
Key Points(5)
- The 22 third-country nationals (TCNs) who arrived in Jamaica from the United States on Tuesday will remain under the care of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) while arrangements are made for their return to their respective home countries.
- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace Horace Chang disclosed the details during a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday.
- The group, comprising 15 men and seven women, arrived at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston at approximately 1:45 p.m.
- on October 13 under an arrangement with the US government.
- The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) has granted them visitor status.
The 22 third-country nationals (TCNs) who arrived in Jamaica from the United States on Tuesday will remain under the care of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) while arrangements are made for their return to their respective home countries.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace Horace Chang disclosed the details during a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday.
The group, comprising 15 men and seven women, arrived at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston at approximately 1:45 p.m. on October 13 under an arrangement with the US government. The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) has granted them visitor status.
Chang said the individuals underwent identity verification before disembarking and were subsequently processed by several Jamaican agencies, including the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jamaica Customs Agency, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and PICA. Foreign language translators assisted with communication between the individuals and local authorities.
Officials from the Ministry of National Security and Peace and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade also participated in the operation.
“The operation was incident-free,” Chang said, adding that the group was transferred to accommodation designated by the IOM following a successful handover.
He assured the public that measures had been taken to safeguard national security and public safety throughout the process.
The minister said the reception of the individuals was being conducted under the agreed framework, in keeping with immigration and security requirements and with consideration for both the well-being of the individuals and the protection of Jamaicans.
Jamaica-US agreement
The arrangement follows a memorandum of understanding signed by the Jamaican and US governments earlier this year to facilitate the temporary reception of third-country nationals in Jamaica before their return to their countries of origin.
Under the agreement, the IOM provides assistance to the individuals while they are in Jamaica and helps coordinate their onward travel.
The Jamaican government has said it will not fund the arrangement and that individuals with criminal histories will not be permitted to transit through the country under the program.
The agreement allows for a maximum of 25 individuals to arrive every two weeks.
It also provides for the suspension of the arrangement if 10 third-country nationals apply to remain in Jamaica through asylum applications or other humanitarian processes.
The government has pledged to keep the public informed of significant developments as the program progresses.
