FACED with a grilling from journalists at a post-Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday, Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang admitted that the first batch of 25 foreign nationals expected to be deported to Jamaica from the United States may opt to remain on the island.

But Chang was adamant that Jamaica would accept no more non-national deportees from the US after that.

Jamaica is expected to receive these deported foreign nationals under a third-country nationals (TCN) agreement with the US, which Chang said he signed last week, but which has not yet gone before Parliament.

Chang told the media briefing that he was unable to say when the first batch of deportees would arrive, where they would stay, and when they would be expected to leave Jamaica.

One thing the minister was certain about was that one of the key requirements for them being accepted on the island is that they must speak English.

The security minister highlighted that in other countries which have a similar arrangement the majority of the people who arrive under a TCN with the US end up moving on after two weeks.

“The operationalisation has not been finalised. In talking to the professionals, the primary criteria established is that they should speak English. It makes it easier for them to come to Jamaica. We have put nothing else on it. They are not criminals, they are more people looking for different opportunities. Jamaica has a big name and a good brand but the raw reality which we tend to overlook is that our per capita income is US$7,000 per capita.

“It doesn’t offer opportunities to people who are seeking to achieve a certain quality of life and live their dreams,” Chang said.

“[The] majority are going to look to head back home and find their way back to the United States. Like some Jamaicans do. We take them in this week and they find their way back to the United States next week. That is how they behave and in the real world. As [a] Government, we have to take decisions based on what we see as best practice. We can’t make guarantees. In countries where the per capita income doubles ours, 94 per cent move on within two weeks. The understanding is that if they stay here, we don’t take any more. If the first 25 stay, the programme ceases immediately,” Chang said.

In response to further questions, Chang was asked to say what framework was in place, since the agreement was signed last week, to ensure the people coming in under the programme do not leak into the Jamaican society.

He was also asked to explain the difference in treatment of Haitians who come to Jamaica as opposed to the people coming under the TCN programme.

“TCNs are being brought here under an understanding we have worked out with the United States Government, the Haitians are coming here illegally. They are all illegal migrants and we take the position to return them to their homes as quickly as possible, directly. We don’t have to send them to a third country. Those who stay apply for asylum and we have to detain them. We don’t detain TCNs.

“They are transitioning through the country. You go to an airport and you await a flight to the next one. Technically, it is almost similar to that. The Haitians who are here, their cases are in court. Some go to the International Court and they seek to get asylum. If they receive asylum we keep them. If they fail, we use our ships to send them back home. They are two different things. We will have a set of people coming from a friendly country with which we have an understanding to bring them here. The Haitians are coming here illegally,” Chang reiterated.

Under further probe, Chang was asked why the people under the programme were not sent directly to their home country.

He argued that this was a technical issue and said the Government is working through those details.

According to Chang, the idea was initiated by the Americans because they have an issue on their hands with illegal immigrants which they are trying to settle.

“We are one of their allies in the Caribbean. We had prolonged discussion and we came to an agreement. I signed it last week,” Chang said, explaining that he was planning to make a public announcement on the topic on Wednesday.

“The Americans are our primary trading and security partner. Our bilateral relations with the United States are very established. Discussions continue between the governments. We are of course the smaller partners. It is a fact of life. Bilateral discussions take place between governments on an ongoing basis. This is one they would have taken the lead on because it is their problem but we can be of some assistance,” the minister said.

On whether the actual document containing the details of the arrangement would be made public, Chang said it is a public document and would be made available to the public.

The minister explained that the agreement currently does not have a starting or an end point.

“It is an understanding that while there is a need we will work with it. If we find it impossible to pursue, we will discontinue it,” Chang added, as he reiterated that the US will take care of the bulk sum for the accommodation of the deportees in Jamaica.

He was adamant that Jamaica was not pressured into the agreement.

“No international discussion proceeds along those lines. We are not at war with anybody. We are two friendly countries and we have bilateral discussions daily,” the minister said.