US Embassy Note Names Audrey Marks in 10,000-Migrant Jamaica Proposal

2 articles · Updated · Jamaica Gleaner · Jun 18

A US Embassy note to Kingston says Minister Audrey Marks proposed on March 5 that Jamaica receive up to 10,000 third-country nationals from the United States.
The document says Marks raised the idea with a US Department of Homeland Security official at the Americas Counter Cartel Conference in Miami, sharpening questions over who initiated the plan.
Jamaica's government has still denied any agreement for 10,000 people to transit the island, though National Security Minister Horace Chang confirmed an MOU exists and said deportees would pass through Jamaica to home or third countries.
Chang said the US would send up to 25 people every two weeks, with transfers paused if 10 or more remain in Jamaica for over 30 days; if all 25 stayed, he said, the programme would stop.
Opposition spokesman Fitz Jackson called the arrangement unacceptable without public disclosure, demanded the MOU be tabled in Parliament, and asked what benefit or security risk Jamaica faces.

Sources

Jamaica Gleaner12h ago

US Embassy Note Names Audrey Marks as Originator of 10,000 TCN Proposal for Jamaica

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A diplomatic note from the United States (US) Embassy in Kingston has stated that a Cabinet minister proposed a controversial deal to Washington that would have had Jamaica “receive” up to 10,000

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Jamaica’s Third-Country National Program: Capped Intake, Human Rights Concerns, and Regional Implications

Overview

As of June 2026, the Jamaican government has taken a careful approach to the migrant proposal, setting strict controls and clear triggers for any program changes. National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang outlined that only 25 Third-Country Nationals (TCNs) would arrive every two weeks, with specific rules to avoid straining Jamaica’s resources. If all 25 decide to stay, the program stops immediately, and if ten remain after 30 days, a full review is triggered. These safeguards show Jamaica’s commitment to managing the process responsibly and preventing overcrowding, reflecting a cautious and controlled strategy.

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