‘Gov’t has not refused return of any Jamaican’
Foreign Affairs Ministry probes US claim that ‘barbaric’ J’can deported to Africa
KINGSTON, Jamaica— Noting that the government has not refused the return of any Jamaican, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith says her ministry has initiated enquiries with United States authorities to probe reports that a national of the island is among five migrants expelled from the US to an African country.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is aware of reports in the public domain, of the transfer of individuals purportedly including a Jamaican national, to Eswatini. The Ministry has initiated enquiries with the US authorities to ascertain the veracity of the reported inclusion of a Jamaican in the transfer,” Johnson Smith said in a tweet on X late Wednesday.
“The Government has not refused the return of any of our nationals to Jamaica, and accordingly, if the reports are confirmed, will continue its engagements with the US on the arrangements necessary to facilitate the individual’s return to Jamaica. We will keep the public updated as soon as further verified information is obtained,” she continued.
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the US Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin took to X on Monday to announce the third-country deportation flight, describing the deported individuals as ‘barbaric’.
“This flight took individuals so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back. These depraved monsters have been terrorising American communities, but thanks to [President] Trump and [Secretary] Noem, they are off of American soil,” she said.
The migrants, all men, were not identified by name, but their photos were shared by McLaughlin. However, it is reported that a Jamaican is among citizens of Yemen, Cuba, Vietnam and Laos whose offences reportedly ranged from child rape to murder.
READ: Jamaican listed among ‘barbaric’ migrants deported from US to Africa
The US Supreme Court paved the way last month for the Donald Trump administration to resume deportations of undocumented migrants to countries that are not their own.
The administration has defended the third country deportations as necessary since the home nations of some of those being targeted for removal often refuse to accept them.
