Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace, Dr Horace Chang, is clarifying that Jamaica is not opening its borders for a controlled migration programme of US deportees.

Chang made the disclosure after news broke that Jamaica had offered to accept non-nationals being deported from the US. The Gleaner reported that talks were expected to begin on an agreement that could see more than 10,000 non-Jamaicans being deported. Chang, in a statement, assured the public that the safety and security of citizens and all people in Jamaica, as well as Jamaica’s obligations under international law guided every step of the discussions on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the country and the US regarding third country nationals (TCNs).

“These are nationals of other countries other than Jamaica who are being facilitated through a structured process to transit through Jamaica to a third territory, including return to their home countries,” he said. Chang said that at no point did Jamaica compromise its sovereignty.