Reviewed AP’s arrival report syndicated by ABC News and the Jamaica Observer’s reporting on programme limits and parliamentary scrutiny. Safeguards are government statements; the full memorandum and individual passengers’ case files were not reviewed. The article describes the October 13 arrival.
Updated : Revised the narrative around the first arrival, transit arrangements and disclosure dispute. Original publication date retained.
First flight puts the transit agreement into operation
Jamaica received 22 people deported from the United States on October 13, beginning a disputed arrangement that uses the island as a transit stop before onward travel to their home countries or other destinations.
The group, all adults including seven women, arrived at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport and left by bus under police escort, the Associated Press reported. Journalists were not given access to the arrivals.
The flight put into operation a memorandum signed in June. Jamaica says the programme allows up to 25 people every two weeks, with the International Organization for Migration providing support during their stay and assisting onward travel.
Government safeguards face demands for disclosure
The government says Jamaica will not fund the arrangement and that people with criminal antecedents will be excluded. According to the Jamaica Observer’s account of the ministries’ statement, the agreement provides for suspension if 10 participants seek to remain through asylum applications or other humanitarian processes.
The opposition People’s National Party has called for the full memorandum to be presented to Parliament. Its criticism centres on the obligations Jamaica accepted and the government’s handling of the agreement.
Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith said the government had negotiated protections for Jamaica, AP reported. She also said the United States had not agreed to make the agreement public. That leaves the stated safeguards available for scrutiny while the full negotiated document remains undisclosed.
Sources
3 references
- Associated Press / ABC NewsJamaica begins receiving third-country deportees under controversial US agreementIndependent reporting on the first arrival · 2026-10-13
- Jamaica Information Service / AbengGovernment Provides Update on Third Country Nationals ArrangementSyndicated government statement on programme limits and support · 2026-10-13
- Jamaica ObserverTCN deal takes flightLocal reporting on the agreement and opposition scrutiny · 2026-10-13
