Chang denies St Mary site will house third country nationals under US migration deal

The Government of Jamaica has rejected claims that third country nationals whose United States immigration cases are still pending would be placed at a property in St Mary, insisting the parish was never part of the plan and that no such arrangement exists.

In a TVJ News interview on Saturday, National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang dismissed reports that the first arrivals would be accommodated at an institution in the parish. "There are no third country nationals in St. Mary currently, and there are no arrangement to house any third country national in the institution in St. Mary," he said.

Chang said St Mary was never an option for housing the migrants, who he indicated would need to be near transport hubs. He would not identify other parishes or sites under review, explaining that technical staff handling the migration operation would select a facility when appropriate. "No, I'm not I'm not looking at any area," he told the broadcaster. "When the technical people who are involved in the migration operation decide to look at when they look for a facility that they think can be made available."

Public unease has centred partly on the backgrounds of people expected under the programme. Chang repeated that those sent from the United States are not criminals, but migrants whose status has not yet been settled by US authorities.

On community consultation, he said Jamaica would likely rely on commercial accommodation. If a private residence were chosen, residents would be engaged; if the International Organization for Migration identifies and leases a hotel, that would be treated as a business transaction. "We're going to have to use a commercial place," he said. "If we take a private residence, we'll have to engage the residents in the community. But if they if the international organization of migration, which we'll work with us, find a hotel and lease it. That's their privilege. It's a business activity." He added that arrivals would be in transition and would not be held in detention.

Questions remain over where the first batch of 25 third country nationals will stay and when they will reach Jamaica. Asked when arrangements might be finalised, Chang said he could not say. "I have no idea," he replied. "No, because we have to go through a process. It's a legal process. The process them after getting legal status, we have to find accommodation and we have to discuss with the with the with this government that will be sending them when they have when they're available and the type people coming. You have to go through the regular due diligence. So, there's still some time to come."