Some 50 Jamaicans arrived on the island on Thursday on the first deportation flight from the United States for 2025, according to reports.
Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith said that the arrival of the deportation flight from the U.S. in Kingston was part of ongoing monthly arrangements. While the number of individuals aboard the flight was not confirmed by Johnson Smith, the minister emphasized that the Jamaican government is fully aware of both local and U.S. concerns regarding the strengthened enforcement of U.S. immigration policies.
Minister Kamina Johnson Smith addressed the growing concerns fueled by misinformation circulating on social media, particularly claims that tens of thousands of Jamaicans are about to be deported en masse. She firmly stated that these claims are “categorically false.” The Minister assured that the Jamaican government is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining active communication with U.S. authorities. She also emphasized that, like most nations, Jamaica has international obligations to accept the return of its citizens who are subject to deportation.