Third Country Nationals under IOM care, says Dr Chang

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, made the disclosure during a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday (October 14).

He said that the TCNs have been granted visitor status by the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA).

The 15 males and seven females arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in Kingston on Tuesday (October 13) at approximately 1:45 p.m. under an arrangement with the United States (US) Government.

Minister Chang said that identity verification was conducted before the individuals disembarked the aircraft.

He informed that the TCNs underwent processing by several agencies, including the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), Ministry of Health and Wellness and PICA. Foreign language translators assisted with communication between the individuals and the authorities.

Dr. Chang said that officials from the Ministry of National Security and Peace and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade also participated in the operation.

“The operation was incident-free. They (TCNs) were subsequently transferred to a prescribed accommodation determined by the IOM. The Government of Jamaica, through its operational team, provided for the formal handing over to IOM and that went successfully and without any controversy,” he said.

He reassured Jamaicans that the necessary measures had been taken to protect national security and public safety throughout the process.

“The Ministry reaffirms that the reception of these individuals is being undertaken in accordance with the agreed framework, including the relevant immigration and security requirements, with regard for the dignity and well-being of the [persons] concerned as well as for the protection and security of Jamaicans at all times,” he said.

The Governments of Jamaica and the United States, earlier this year, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on TCNs to facilitate the temporary reception of individuals in Jamaica before return to their countries of origin.

It is a transit arrangement with the support of the IOM, which has been formally engaged to provide assistance to the individuals while they are in Jamaica and to facilitate their onward movement.

The arrangement is not being funded by the Government of Jamaica, and no TCN with criminal antecedents will be permitted to transit through Jamaica under the programme.

The number of persons anticipated will be a maximum of 25 per fortnight.

Furthermore, the MOU provides for suspension of the arrangement if 10 TCNs apply to remain in Jamaica through asylum applications or other humanitarian processes.

The Government has committed to continuing to keep the public informed of significant developments as the programme progresses.