October 13, 2026
First flight transporting third country nationals expected to arrive in Jamaica shortly
Written byClement Reid
The first flight transporting third-country nationals to Jamaica is expected to arrive shortly.
They are being brought here under an agreement between Jamaica and the United States.
The Ministries of National Security and Peace and Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade gave the update in a press release to the media yesterday.
No definite date was given for the arrival, and no information was provided about the nationalities involved.
The release said the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has agreed to commence support services, with the first flight transporting third country nationals under the agreement expected to arrive in Jamaica shortly.
It said, as previously communicated, the Governments of Jamaica and the United States had finalised the operating procedures governing the arrangement, including the necessary safeguards and parameters to ensure its implementation in a safe, orderly and lawful manner.
The Government reiterates that this is a transit arrangement intended to facilitate the return of third country nationals to their countries of origin or other receiving countries, 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 Government further reiterates that the arrangement will not be funded by the Government of Jamaica, that no third country national with criminal antecedents will be permitted to transit through Jamaica under this programme; and further, that the number of persons anticipated will be a maximum of 25 persons per fortnight.
The Ministries said, as previously outlined, the MOU provides for its suspension if 10 third country nationals apply to remain in Jamaica through asylum applications or other humanitarian processes.
The release said the Government of Jamaica will continue to work closely with the Government of the United States and the IOM to ensure that the implementation of the programme is appropriately managed in accordance with the principles of safe and orderly migration, and consistent with both domestic and international law.
