The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) is urging the government to suspend efforts to finalize a proposed Third-Country National agreement with the United States until the arrangement has been subjected to parliamentary scrutiny and broad public consultation.
The call comes amid growing public debate over reports that Jamaica and the United States are discussing an arrangement that would allow certain undocumented migrants in the US to transit through Jamaica before being returned to their countries of origin. The proposal has sparked concern among sections of the public, including fears that individuals with criminal backgrounds could be transferred to Jamaica. The government has sought to allay those concerns, insisting that no such persons would be permitted to enter the country.
In a statement, the JCC said it recognizes that the government must navigate complex national security, economic and geopolitical challenges, particularly in an environment of heightened international immigration enforcement.
However, the church body argued that national development objectives should not come at the expense of international humanitarian obligations or protections afforded under international law.
The JCC cited concerns about the risk of ‘chain refoulement,’ referring to the transfer of migrants through multiple jurisdictions without adequate safeguards, and pointed to the case of a Jamaican citizen who was reportedly deported in error to Eswatini in 2025.
The council is calling on the government to make public the full text of the proposed agreement, as well as its operational guidelines, to allow for greater transparency and informed public discussion.
It is also seeking assurances that any foreign nationals transferred through Jamaica would be afforded access to an individualized and fair refugee status determination process and would not be returned to countries where their lives or freedoms could be at risk.
The JCC said the government should ensure that any migration-related arrangements are guided by principles of justice, fairness and international solidarity, rather than short-term diplomatic considerations.
The government has not yet released details of the proposed arrangement, but officials have maintained that Jamaica’s national interests and legal obligations will be protected in any agreement reached with the United States.