St. Mary Residents Resist Plan to House US-Deported Third-Country Nationals

Residents in Grants Pen, St. Mary, have spoken out against government arrangements to temporarily accommodate third-country nationals whom the United States is deporting to Jamaica. The matter has quickly become the chief subject of conversation in homes, gathering places, and on streets throughout the area.

Although the National Security Minister has said on repeated occasions that the individuals are not criminals but asylum seekers whose claims have yet to be ruled on by United States authorities, people living in the community remain uneasy about outsiders taking up residence among them.

One resident said Grants Pen is a peaceful community and that locals know little about where deportees might be coming from. "We don't want no murderers. We don't want no rapists. We don't want no pedophiles here. We have enough of our own problems here," the resident said, noting that it is difficult enough to manage local challenges without taking on outsiders. The same person added that skilled workers could be accepted if Jamaica needs them.

Other residents separated the question of Jamaicans returning from that of foreign nationals. Asked whether Jamaicans would be welcome, one person agreed they could come because the island is their home. The same interviewee stressed that the prospective arrivals are not Jamaican.

When the first batch of 25 third-country nationals will arrive, and whether all of them will be housed in Grants Pen, is not yet clear. The government has been reluctant to release details. The National Security Minister has said only that the agreement is being finalised, though he told Parliament last week that Washington will fund their stay in Jamaica.

Community members also faulted officials for failing to consult residents before pressing ahead. "You supposed to find out from the people them," one person said. "You can't just push things upon the people them because we not going to say no we have say." The speaker called for Jamaicans to unite and stand up for what they believe in.