Jamaica and the United States have finalized operating procedures for an agreement involving third-country nationals transferred from the US.

Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith announced the development during a post-Cabinet briefing. She said the procedures establish safeguards and limits under the memorandum of understanding signed by both countries earlier this year.

Under the arrangement, Jamaica will receive a maximum of 25 third-country nationals every two weeks. The government has said the individuals will not be permanently resettled in Jamaica.

The arrangement also excludes people with criminal records. Jamaica negotiated the limits while considering the country’s capacity and its approach to safe, orderly and lawful migration.

However, no date has been set for the first arrivals. The International Organization for Migration is completing its assessment and working with Jamaican agencies to prepare for the programme.

IOM to Support Migrants

Jamaican authorities will receive the third-country nationals before transferring responsibility to the IOM. The organisation will provide support during their stay and arrange their return to their home countries through its Assisted Voluntary Return Programme.

The United States will fund the arrangement. The Jamaican government will not cover the cost.

Johnson Smith also stressed that the people covered by the agreement are not Jamaican nationals. They are citizens of other countries who entered the United States unlawfully and are being assisted with returning home.

The arrangement includes another safeguard. It will be suspended if 10 third-country nationals apply to remain in Jamaica through asylum or other humanitarian procedures.

Jamaica will also retain authority to reject individuals proposed for transfer. The government has previously said prospective arrivals will undergo health screening, identity checks and criminal record checks.

The government has rejected claims that Jamaica agreed to receive as many as 10,000 people. Johnson Smith said the limit of 25 people every two weeks was specifically negotiated because of Jamaica’s capacity constraints.

MOU Will Not Be Released

The memorandum of understanding itself will not be made public. Johnson Smith said Jamaica consulted with the US Government about releasing the document, but Washington did not agree.

She said the agreement is bilateral and that such arrangements are not generally released by the United States. The minister maintained that the government has disclosed the relevant provisions.

The programme has faced public scrutiny since its announcement in June, particularly over the number of people involved and the conditions of their stay.

Jamaica is among close to 30 countries involved in similar third-country national arrangements with the United States, according to the government. Officials say they will continue working with the IOM and US Government to implement the programme under Jamaican and international law.