KINGSTON, Jamaica, Oct 14, CMC – Jamaica Wednesday confirmed that it has received the first group of Third Country Nationals (TCNs), under an agreement with the United States that is seeking to deal with the problem of illegal migration.
National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang told a news conference that the 22 migrants, including seven women, arrived here on Tuesday afternoon and that there were no children involved.
He said that the pre-confirmation of identity was undertaken subsequent to arrival and that they were received by officials from the International Organization of Migration (IOM) and taken to a location which he could not disclose.
“There were four on-site translators, two virtually, to ensure that all the members would have easy communication with the team on the ground, and it went very well,” Chang said, adding “the operation was incident-free.
“They were subsequently transferred to a prescribed accommodation determined by the International Organization for Migration…and that went successfully and without any controversy”. Watch video
Chang said that the migrants, none of home had a criminal record were “provided a visa status by the Passport Immigration Centre and during that time, they’ll be hosted by the IOM…a trusted international organisation.”
Chang said the IOM operates across the globe, “in conditions far more difficult than they are in Jamaica” and that in accordance with the established arrangements, “IOM now assumes full responsibility for their care and will facilitate their return to their respective countries”.
Chang said that the reception of these individuals is being undertaken in accordance with the agreed framework including the relevant immigration and security requirements, as well as for the protection and security of Jamaicans at all times.
“We can assure our country, the citizens listening, that we have taken all necessary steps to protect the well-being of Jamaicans, while ensuring that there’s a human transition of a number of fellow citizens from across the globe who are experiencing some challenges,” Chang told reporters.
Chang without going into details of the agreement with Washington said “we have signed an MOU in which we will receive a number of third country nationals once we have settled our operational agreement with the International Organization for Migration and that process started yesterday with 22 nationals.
“In terms of financing, we have received no funding from the United States. Funding goes to the International Organization for Migration who has host responsibility for them while they are here and will make arrangements for them to transit to their home country.”
The National Security Minister said that the “individuals from different cultures” are free to move about in Jamaica, adding “they are here as visitors and they are working closely with the IOM in terms of conveying relevant information.
“The IOM will extract the information they require to prepare them for transit to their home country. They are free to do as they are otherwise, like any visitor to ” he said, adding that he is not aware of any one of the visitors having applied for asylum status.
“I wouldn’t be able to give you that answer today. There are transition to the IOM only yesterday afternoon, which is less than 24 hours. The IOM will interrogate and not only make arraignment for the movement, if they seek other alternative arraignment, then the IOM will inform us and we take it from there.”
Chang said he could not also disclose when the island would receive another batch of migrants under the TCN agreement.
“I cannot tell you when others arrive. We have a 14 day gap, they’re indicating that we can get another trip after 14 days, but there’s no guarantee that, you know, it’s not like, these are designated numbers …that we receive, our own citizens, where every two weeks, we know we get a batch, a flight from anywhere from 50 to 75 individuals.
“The TCNs depend on the number, which might penetrate the barrier getting into the United States, …and what the State Department will decide, or the ICE will decide where they’re sending them and to which country.”
Chang said that there are 30 countries involved in the TCN agreements with the United States government.
“In the Caribbean, you have Belize, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Panama, Latin America, Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda is still in some discussion, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis in this region, and there are additional well over 20 in the wider community.
“So when they have a batch, a number of cities to move as transition, they decide based on where those cities are from,” Chang said, adding “minimum time is 14 days.”
Download video – Dr. Horace Chang, National Security Minister
CMC/kj/ir/2026