Scott-Mottley calls for Govt clarification on reported US deportation proposal

Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign, Regional and Diaspora Affairs, Senator Donna Scott-Mottley, is calling on the Government to urgently clarify reports that Jamaica is being considered for participation in a proposed Third-Country Nationals (TCN) Agreement with the United States.

According to media reports, the proposed arrangement could allow for the transfer of non-Jamaican nationals being removed from the United States to Jamaica under specified circumstances. The reports have generated significant public concern and raise important questions that the Government has a responsibility to answer. 

“Jamaicans deserve to know whether discussions have taken place and whether any commitments or understandings have been reached. They also deserve to know whether any Jamaican official approached the United States regarding such an arrangement. If so, the Government must indicate who authorised those discussions and on whose behalf they were conducted,” Senator Scott-Mottley said.

She noted that any arrangement involving the transfer of non-nationals to Jamaica would carry significant implications for immigration policy, national security, public resources, international obligations, and Jamaica’s sovereign interests.

The Opposition Spokesperson said the Government should indicate whether Cabinet has considered the matter, which ministries and agencies have been involved in any discussions, what criteria would govern the acceptance of individuals under such an arrangement, and what legal status those individuals would hold while in Jamaica. She also questioned how long such persons would be permitted to remain in the country and what obligations Jamaica would assume under the proposed agreement.

Senator Scott-Mottley said the Government must also indicate what safeguards would be in place to protect Jamaica’s interests and whether any assessment has been undertaken of the financial, social, humanitarian, and security implications of participating in a Third-Country Nationals Agreement. “This is not simply a matter of foreign policy. It is a matter that touches on national sovereignty, immigration policy, public resources, and public confidence. The  Government must therefore be transparent about any discussions that may be taking place,” Senator Scott-Mottley said.

Given the significance of the matter, Senator Scott-Mottley said the Government should make an early statement to the country setting out the facts and clarifying its position. “The Government should move swiftly to clarify the facts and outline its position on this matter. Questions of this magnitude cannot be left to speculation. The Jamaican people are entitled to a clear and timely explanation,” Senator Scott-Mottley said.