140% spike in deportees to Jamaica last year

Jamaica saw a dramatic 140% surge in deportations last year, with 1,317 individuals returned to the island in 2025 compared to 547 in 2024. The Planning Institute of Jamaica's (PIOJ) Economic and Social Survey Jamaica highlights that a substantial number of these deportees had serious criminal convictions. Sixty individuals deported in 2025 were convicted of murder, manslaughter, or attempted murder, with 52 of them coming from the United States. Additionally, 171 deportees had drug convictions, and 134 were convicted for wounding, assault, and battery offenses, again with the majority originating from the U.S.

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Allow me to be clear that 4,000 Jamaicans are not being returned now. For some time it has been in the public domain that the US authorities had close to 4,000 persons in their records with final orders for deportation against their names. It is now our understanding that approximately 2,500 have been confirmed for removal over a period of time, to be determined by logistics, their own legal processes, and other factors.

The United States remains the primary source of deportees, sending 967 individuals to Jamaica in 2025 as part of its policy to deport Jamaicans on the last Thursday of each month. Canada, England, and other countries also contributed to the total. The increase in deportations has prompted clarification from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith. She stated that while close to 4,000 Jamaicans may have final deportation orders from the U.S., only approximately 2,500 have been confirmed for removal over a period, dependent on logistics and legal processes.

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It is now our understanding that approximately 2,500 have been confirmed for removal over a period of time, to be determined by logistics, their own legal processes, and other factors.

Senator Johnson Smith emphasized that deportations are not a new issue and that the Jamaican government is committed to its international obligations while ensuring national security. The data also indicates that 610 deportees were returned for immigration violations, such as illegal entry and overstaying visas. Other offenses included firearm convictions, larceny, fraud, kidnapping, and money laundering. The significant rise in deportations underscores ongoing challenges in managing the return of citizens with criminal records and the impact on national security and social services.

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It is now our understanding that approximately 2,500 have been confirmed for removal over a period of time, to be determined by logistics, their own legal processes, and other factors.