Chang insists no criminals in Jamaica under U.S. TCN deal following DHS article

October 28, 2026

National Security Minister, Dr. Horace Chang, is standing firmly behind the Government’s decision to accept Third Country Nationals (TCNs) from the United States, insisting that none of the individuals in Jamaica under the arrangement has a criminal background.

22 TCNs arrived on the island on October 13. Ten have left, while another has expressed a desire to stay in Jamaica.

The issue has taken on added significance following yesterday’s publication by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which declared that the North American nation has removed some of its most serious criminal offenders to third countries under such arrangements.

The publication cites individuals convicted of offences including murder, rape, child sexual offences and drug trafficking.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has defended the removals, arguing that third-country arrangements allow the U.S. to deport individuals whose countries of origin may not readily accept them.

Speaking with IRIE FM News this morning about the DHS publication, Dr. Chang insisted that the necessary vetting was conducted before the TCNs were accepted.

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He stressed that the arrangement with Jamaica is designed to ensure that the TCNs remain in the country only for a short period.

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The National Security Minister also maintained that the Government will not make public the memorandum of understanding governing the TCN arrangement with the U.S.

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