Foreign Ministry responds to reports Jamaican travellers to some countries facing immigration issues

   

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is actively working to address reports of immigration challenges being faced by Jamaican travellers in Mexico and other Central American countries.

 

In a statement Wednesday evening, Minister Kamina Johnson Smith expressed concern about the reports and said the relevant authorities are being engaged to resolve the issues.

 

Mrs. Johnson Smith said the government respects the right of all countries to determine who enters their borders - as does Jamaica - but it stands ready to protect against infringement of citizens' rights.

 

At the same, Mrs. Johnson Smith reminded Jamaicans that last year, the ministry had advised that Central American countries were taking a more restrictive approach to reduce the misuse of their borders to enter the US illegally. 

 

"The government therefore then strongly urged the Jamaicans not to misuse particular borders for the purpose of illegal immigration and warned that it was quite possible that lawful travellers would start to be negatively impacted. That is, they could ultimately be negatively impacted," she recalled.

 

"While the Jamaican government always stands ready to defend and protect the rights of our citizens overseas, we regret to remind that we cannot insist that any state allow any non-citizen to enter that state. No citizen has a right to enter another country other than their own, so we therefore can only work to prevent the contravention of basic rights, of human rights, particularly in terms of unlawful detention or mistreatment," added the minister. 

 

Jamaicans are being urged to observe the immigration laws of the countries they want to visit, which Mrs. Johnson Smith said may change overtime.

 

"They should look at whether it is that there are new immigration practices that cause issues. We understand that the Mexican embassy is sending out a reminder of the requirements to enter their country. It still is visa-free for Jamaicans and therefore we still have the opportunity to travel there," she said. 

 

The minister also appealed to persons who believe their rights have been infringed to contact the Foreign Affairs Ministry.