‘Welcome home, Daddy’

It was no ordinary homecoming for at least two Jamaican deportees who returned on a United States deportation flight yesterday.

One deportee, overcome with emotion, wept as he reunited with about 15 relatives who had gathered, eagerly awaiting his release after processing at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

His arrival was met with tears and warm embraces, including from two daughters wearing white T-shirts emblazoned with ‘Welcome Home Dad’.

The deportee, who reportedly served 27 years in a US federal prison, was clearly a celebrated figure among his loved ones.

One of his brothers was so overwhelmed that he froze at the sight of him, tears streaming down his face.

“A 27 years me nuh see him, y’know. Watch mi breda! We love him. He did so much for us,” the emotional sibling said.

According to a family friend, the man had been a key provider before his incarceration, and had worked hard to secure a future for his family.

“Him have him house dem a town and country. He was good to his family. He got into some trouble and is now well reformed. They don’t look at the negative. They are positive people who know that he is coming home to what he has built,” the friend told The Gleaner.

Another deportee, who appeared to be in his late 60s and who reportedly spent 20 years in prison, was left speechless when he spotted two close friends waiting for him.

One of the friends had earlier told The Gleaner that, having learnt that he would be deported today, they had flown in hours earlier just to surprise him and welcome him home.

“He don’t even know we are here. He has been away for 20-plus years … . He thinks he is coming to see someone else and is worried that person doesn’t even remember how he looks,” he told The Gleaner.

The friend, who travelled from New York, spoke candidly about the current US deportation climate.

“Donald Trump is not playing … . They (immigration officials) are blocking roads. They’re pulling up to yuh house and taking people. He wants to make it so that you tell people don’t come to America illegally and don’t come to America and give trouble,” the man said.

Describing detention conditions as harsh, the friend added that some people were choosing to self-deport to avoid those conditions.

“After they finish their time (imprisonment) and are sent to the halfway house, it gets worse. Trust me,” he said.

“They don’t get bellyful when they are in detention. They get fed just enough to be able to live. I can tell you because that is what I am told from persons in the system,” the visiting friend said.

Yesterday’s flight brought home 107 Jamaican nationals from the United States. Processing at the airport was slow because of the high volume, and The Gleaner witnessed at least one deportee being handed over to the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith confirmed that US authorities had approximately 4,000 Jamaicans with final deportation orders, with about 2,500 now confirmed for removal over time, based on legal and logistical considerations.

She noted that the return of Jamaicans was not a new phenomenon.

“We receive our citizens when they are returned to us just as we expect, and we do repatriate foreign nationals who commit serious crimes or breaches of our immigration laws,” Johnson said at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House yesterday afternoon.

She assured the public that all returnees would be treated with dignity and fairness while also highlighting the need to protect national security.

To that end, on May 5, Cabinet approved a coordinated Deportation Response Action Plan, and a multi-agency working group has been formed, according to the Ministry of National Security.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang pointed out that Jamaica typically receives one deportation flight per month from the US.

“In 2023, we had 655 [deportees]; 2024 we had 814; we’ve gone 331 [up to April],” he said at the same briefing, “Yes, there are those who may also come with a [criminal] record. We will also deal with that. In fact, we’re looking at how we can also introduce continuous police monitoring, but we are introducing, very soon, electronic tagging. So those who might be challenging to us, we’ll find them,” Chang said.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com