Michael Abrahams | Jamaica’s third-country national deportee agreement: why the secrecy and deception?

In June, the US and Jamaica signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to use Jamaica as a transit point for up to 25 third-country national (TCN) deportees every two weeks. The first set of TCN deportees arrived at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston on October 13.

Many Jamaicans have expressed unease with this arrangement for several reasons, chief among them the Government’s lack of transparency. Indeed, we learnt about the agreement not from the Government, but from an article published in The Gleaner on June 16. ( https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20260616/deportee-deal-jamaica-offers-accept-non-nationals-being-booted-us)

During the post-Cabinet press briefing that took place on June 17, the day after The Gleaner story was published, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang addressed the situation. He insisted that the individuals being sent here are not deportees, declaring, “Jamaica is not receiving any deportees from the United States, except Jamaicans”. https://www.youtube.com/live/nenSxV8bhKA?si=fuO5AXS6ux6W26zi (19:07)

Later, while responding to Kimone Francis, the journalist who broke the story, Chang reiterated, “They are not deportees”. (29:13)Regarding other characteristics of the TCNs, we were told that the “primary” and “only” demand or criterion is that they should speak English (36:00 and 47:30), and that they are not “criminals” or “people of ill repute” (48:39).

Regarding the MOU, Dr Chang assured us that the document would be accessible, saying, “It’s a public document. Yes, it will be public. It will be available to the public.”

The following day, during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Ministerial Update, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information Dr Dana Morris Dixon affirmed that the MOU would be shared publicly, saying, “Yes, the MOU will be made public. I expect that within a matter of days, if it’s not already public.” https://youtu.be/jcJhz4Qo0m4?si=oo9gjKxFH3wmRFDd (8:10)

However, the press briefing was fraught with deception and misinformation. First, the individuals are deportees; they are people being expelled from the country they entered. The Council on Foreign Relations in the US speaks of “third-country deportations” and refers to the individuals as “deportees”. https://www.cfr.org/articles/what-are-third-country-deportations-and-why-trump-using-them.

Interestingly, during the same press briefing, Dr Chang referred to Jamaicans being “deported” by the US to third countries, making them deportees. So, people from other countries sent here by the US would be deportees too.

Regarding the MOU, during a post-Cabinet press briefing on July 29, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith told us a different story, saying, “This is something I would have to discuss with the US”. https://www.youtube.com/live/gKTXvRqh98E?si=S3s7MqHUByQ5WNsb (2:06:50)

This response is troubling on several fronts. First, two senior government officials had already assured the public that the MOU would be disclosed. Second, since the agreement was revealed, there have been repeated calls for the MOU to be shared. Why then would it take six weeks for permission to be sought to share the document? Such apparent nonchalance about an issue that has generated considerable public anxiety suggests a disregard for the citizenry’s legitimate demand for transparency.

On October 13, in an official statement, Johnson Smith stated, “Some countries have had their agreements made public, but our partner has not agreed for this one to be.” https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20261013/johnson-smith-says-jamaicas-interests-protected-us-third-country-national

Yet, the government of Antigua and Barbuda has been transparent with its people and has shared its MOU with them. https://www.thirdcountrydeportationwatch.org/antigua-and-barbuda Why we are not sharing ours remains a mystery.

Despite Dr Chang’s insistence that speaking English is the “primary” and “only” criterion, according to media reports, of the seven women and 15 men who arrived here, only five speak the language. https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20261014/tcn-caution-govt-urged-weigh-legal-liabilities-22-deported-foreigners-arrive

During a White House Cabinet meeting on April 30, 2025, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was in talks with multiple countries to try to get them to take people from third countries who are in the US illegally, describing them as “despicable” and referring to them as “perverts, pedophiles and child rapists”. https://www.facebook.com/CBSNews/videos/rubio-says-trump-administration-is-actively-searching-for-more-countries-to-take/1227182552339140/

We were told that we would be able to see the MOU, but we will not. We were told the people were not deportees, but they are. We were told that speaking English was the “primary” and “only” criterion, but it has been reported that fewer than one-quarter of the deportees sent here meet it. So, when our government tells us that the TCNs coming here are not “criminals” or “people of ill repute”, like the people referenced by Marco Rubio, why should we believe them? And why should we trust the US, a nation that has bombed and destabilised more countries than any other?

Many questions remain unanswered, and concerns are valid. For instance, the Government has not been open about the vetting process used to determine who is sent here and, even if they have no criminal records in the US, we have no idea what crimes and misdemeanours they may have committed in their native countries. During the June 17 press briefing, Dr Chang also said that some may choose to stay here, the maximum being 25 (32:35). We are already experiencing a challenge taking care of our own, especially in the aftermath of a major hurricane when many Jamaicans remain homeless. So, how will we facilitate those who opt to remain? Who will pay for their healthcare? If they are unable to find employment, who will be responsible for their food, clothing and shelter? What financial and legal obligations will Jamaica assume?

Our government has been less than forthright and transparent with us. They have misinformed and gaslit us, and some of their narratives insult our intelligence. The contradictions between their assurances and subsequent actions have undermined public trust. We deserve more clarity. Why the secrecy? And why the deception?

Michael Abrahams is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, social commentator, and human-rights advocate. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and michabe_1999@hotmail.com, or follow him on X @mikeyabrahams.