'Come home and help us build,' PM urges Jamaicans facing uncertainty in US

 

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness is encouraging Jamaicans living in the US who are finding it difficult to adjust to the tough immigration policies of the Trump administration to come back home.

 

"Jamaica is your homeland. You are not homeless or stateless. And if you are finding it difficult where you are, come back here. Ackee and saltfish was always good. It's on the tree, you can get it. Don't stay there and suffer. Come back home," he appealed as he addressed a meeting of the National Security Council on Thursday.

 

But he also warned criminal deportees that the government will take a zero tolerance approach to their illegal activities. 

 

"Don't come back here to destroy your homeland and what we have been working very hard to create so that you wouldn't have had to leave in the first place.... So expect to be dealt with a firm hand if your intent is criminal. Come back and let us build your homeland so that you can stand up with pride with the citizens of the world about your country, that you don't have to be economic refugees. That's what it is about," he pleaded.   

 

The Prime Minister argued that while the US government has the right to implement its policy, the Trump administration should also focus on criminals sending guns to Jamaica.

 

"We respect the sovereign rights of any country to pursue their public order, citizen security, and social policies. But it would be very useful, however, if the intention is to find criminals who are also illegal migrants, to put some effort on those who are trying to send back guns to Jamaica. The remittance coming back to Jamaica is helping grandma in some remote community to survive an extra day. So too is the barrel with rice. But it is unfortunate when the gun is in that rice," he pointed out.