Jamaica's Deputy Prime Minister Says No Criminals Will Enter Country Under US Transit Deal

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace, Dr Horace Chang, has sought to reassure the public that a deportation transit arrangement with the United States will not allow criminals to enter the island, insisting the government would not jeopardise gains made in reducing violent crime.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Chang rejected criticism surrounding the Third Country Nationals (TCN) arrangement, under which Jamaica has agreed to facilitate the temporary transit of non-Jamaican nationals being deported from the United States.

“To consider that I would bring criminals into Jamaica, from anywhere of any kind, after we have done all we have done to reduce crime and violence, it is ridiculous,” Chang said during his closing presentation in the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate.

He added that “no criminal will find a safe haven anywhere in Jamaica” while the current administration remains in office.

The arrangement has generated public debate in Jamaica, with some critics raising concerns about transparency in the negotiations and questioning whether it could expose the country to security risks. The government has maintained that the agreement provides only for the controlled and temporary transit of third-country nationals and does not permit criminals to be resettled in Jamaica.

Chang said the government’s position is consistent with its efforts to strengthen public security, pointing to a 23 per cent decline in homicides.

He said that if the current trend continues, Jamaica could record fewer than 600 murders by the end of the year, attributing the reduction to sustained investment in law enforcement, improved policing strategies and stronger security institutions.

Chang also highlighted the work of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), saying it has expanded its assistance to law enforcement agencies in several Caribbean territories, including the Turks and Caicos Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Saint Lucia, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

Beyond security, the deputy prime minister said the government is pursuing reforms in agriculture, healthcare and land administration, including implementation of a 10-year agricultural plan and measures to accelerate land titling and address informal settlements.