JCHS demands immediate halt to ‘secret’ deportation pact with US, citing legal and humanitarian risks

In a statement released late last evening, the JCHS registered its “strongest possible objection” to the pact, which was negotiated in secret and announced without parliamentary or public consultation. The coalition argues the agreement exposes Jamaica to a host of unresolved legal, humanitarian, and security risks.

The controversy centres on an MOU signed with the US Department of Homeland Security, confirmed by National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang on June 17. Under the arrangement, the US would transfer 25 foreign nationals to Jamaica every two weeks. However, the JCHS points to alarming gaps in the government's disclosures, noting that Minister Chang admitted he has no current information on the implementation date, the intended housing for these individuals, or clarity on the possible inclusion of persons with criminal records.

“The mystery and secrecy surrounding this arrangement, and the contemptuous response of the government to reasonable enquiries of Jamaican citizens, is high-handed, autocratic, and contrary to the democratic process,” the JCHS statement declared.

Adding a significant legal dimension, the coalition highlighted that a US Federal District Court struck down the third-country removal policy as unlawful in February 2026. The ruling found that the US cannot deport migrants to undesignated nations without proper notice and due process. The policy is currently being enforced only because the Trump administration has appealed, with a final Supreme Court decision not expected until the 2026-27 term.

“Jamaica is therefore being asked to participate in a programme whose legality is unresolved in the United States,” the JCHS stated. “If the Supreme Court upholds the lower court ruling, Jamaica could find itself holding individuals under an agreement with no valid legal foundation.”

The coalition also tied the deal to the government's ongoing struggles to manage domestic crises. “How can the Jamaican Government, that has been unable to adequately resolve the persistent social and infrastructural needs of the victims of Hurricane Melissa, even contemplate taking responsibility for thousands of foreign nationals?” the statement asked.

The JCHS has issued a series of demands, calling on the Holness administration to immediately suspend the MOU and publish its full text, including any financial arrangements. The group further demands written guarantees from the US government on the criminal background, nationality, and legal status of every proposed transferee, and insists that Jamaica must refuse to become a transit point for individuals with pending US court proceedings.

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

Through its state-operated media, the Jamaica Information Service – the country has signed an MOU with the U.S. to temporarily house up to 25 TCN migrants awaiting U.S. immigration resolutions, not deportees, at any given time, with a pause if over 10 are in transit. 

All arrivals will undergo strict health, identity, and criminal screenings, with rejections for those with criminal records, Dr Chang emphasised. 

The agreement has triggered strong public and political backlash, with the Opposition and civil groups demanding transparency and citing national security concerns. The government has denied rumours of accepting 10,000 migrants or convicts. Operational guidelines are being finalized with the IOM, and no transfers will occur until safeguards are in place.

The opposition PNP and civil society groups, yesterday, protested in Cross Road, St. Andrew against the government, with critics, including Senator Lambert Brown, raising concerns about unknown terms, national security risks, and the potential for deportees to fuel local gang activity.