Jamaica begins receiving third-country deportees under controversial U.S. agreement

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The first flight transporting third-country nationals from the United States arrived in Jamaica on Tuesday, marking the commencement of a highly scrutinized bilateral agreement that utilizes the Caribbean nation as a temporary transit hub for migrants.

These agreements, whose legality will be debated by the Supreme Court, have become increasingly common under the Trump administration, with migrants being sent to Liberia, Eswatini, Paraguay and beyond.

The group of 22 migrants — all adults including seven women — were quickly processed on arrival at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport mid-afternoon Tuesday and whisked away by bus with police escort to an undisclosed location.

The media was not given access. Jamaican authorities say they are following procedures intended to ensure the arrangement’s implementation in a “safe, orderly and lawful manner.”

SCOTUS allows 'third country' deportations

The flight’s arrival marks the operational beginning of a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in June this year. Under the arrangement, non-Jamaican migrants will be flown to the Caribbean nation before being transferred to their home countries or other destinations.

While official passenger manifests and exact arrival times were closely guarded, local sources indicated the inaugural cohort consisted largely of South American nationals.

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business