Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society wants US deportation deal paused pending public scrutiny

The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society (JCHS) is calling for the immediate suspension and public review of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Government and the United States Department of Homeland Security to facilitate the transfer of third-country nationals to Jamaica.

In a statement issued yesterday, the coalition said it “registers its strongest possible objection” to the agreement, which provides for Jamaica to accept third-country nationals, persons who are neither Jamaican citizens nor United States nationals, on Jamaican soil.

It argued that the agreement “was negotiated in secret, announced without public or parliamentary consultation,” and exposes Jamaica to “potential legal, humanitarian, and security risks” about which, it said, the Government has demonstrated “an alarming lack of transparency.”

The coalition’s statement follows confirmation by National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang on June 17 that Jamaica had signed an MOU with the US Department of Homeland Security for the transfer of 25 foreign nationals to the island every two weeks.

According to the interest group, the minister has acknowledged that there is no current information regarding the implementation date of the agreement or the intended place of residence for the foreign nationals.

It also said the possible inclusion of persons with criminal records remains unclear.

“The mystery and secrecy surrounding this arrangement, and the contemptuous response of the Government to reasonable enquiries by Jamaican citizens, are high-handed, autocratic, and contrary to the democratic process,” the coalition said.

The organisation also pointed to legal proceedings in the United States, noting that a US Federal District Court struck down the third-country removal policy as unlawful in February 2026, ruling that the US could not deport migrants to undesignated nations without proper notice and due process.

According to the coalition, the policy is currently being enforced only because the Trump administration has appealed the ruling, with a final decision by the US Supreme Court expected during the 2026-27 term.

It argued that Jamaica is therefore being asked to participate in a programme “whose legality is unresolved in the United States.”

The coalition argued that if the Supreme Court upholds the lower court’s ruling, Jamaica could find itself holding individuals under an agreement with no valid legal foundation. It added that even if the policy is ultimately upheld, its objections would remain.

The coalition also questioned whether Jamaica, which it said has been unable to adequately resolve the persistent social and infrastructural needs of victims of Hurricane Melissa, should contemplate taking responsibility for foreign nationals.

Among its demands, it is calling for the Government to immediately suspend implementation of the MOU pending full public and parliamentary scrutiny, publish the full text of the agreement and any associated financial arrangements, and clarify Jamaica’s obligations under international refugee law if the agreement proceeds.

It is also urging the Government to consult civil society, the legal profession, and human rights organisations before any agreement is finalised, and to state clearly who will bear financial responsibility for housing, legal processing, medical care, repatriation infrastructure, and other obligations.

The organisation also wants the Government to obtain written guarantees from the US Government regarding the criminal background, nationality, legal status, and onward pathway of every individual proposed for transfer, and to refuse to become a transit point for individuals with pending US court proceedings or court-ordered protections.

“Jamaica must not bear the burden of US immigration problems,” the coalition said.

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