Deportees cautioned against criminal conduct as gov't steps up reintegration efforts

 

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has again issued a stern warning to repatriated citizens who may be tempted to return to Jamaica with criminal intent. 

 

His caution comes after some 107 deportees arrived at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston from the United States on Thursday morning. This is reportedly the largest group since the start of the year. 

 

While acknowledging the hardships faced by some Jamaicans living abroad, the Prime Minister cautioned against any attempt to import criminal conduct into the country.

 

Dr. Holness said the Ministry of National Security in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has been tasked with strengthening reintegration support for deported nationals, ensuring they are given avenues to contribute meaningfully while also protecting the safety and stability of communities.

 

Addressing the matter at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith clarified how many Jamaicans are expected to be deported from the United States.

 

"Allow me to be clear that 4,000 Jamaicans are not being returned now. For some time, it has been in the public domain that the US authorities had close to 4,000 persons in their records with final orders for deportation against their names. It is now our understanding that approximately 2,500 have been confirmed for removal over a period of time, to be determined by logistics, their own legal processes and other factors," she outlined.

 

Minister Johnson Smith also shared more about the government's expanded national reintegration and the rehabilitation strategy.

 

"On May 5th, Cabinet approved the establishment of a National Technical Working Group on Voluntary and Involuntary Migrants, recognising that not only is the grouping not homogenous in and of itself, we now have a subgrouping of those who are returning of their own motion and those who are being returned - those who have the decision made for them," she noted.

 

The technical group comprises several ministries, departments and agencies as well as civil society partners. It is chaired by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), with oversight provided by the ministries of national security and foreign affairs and foreign trade. 

 

United States President Donald Trump has undertaken a country-wide dragnet to mass deport undocumented immigrants to their homeland.