On 30 July 2026, deportation orders were issued against eight Haitian nationals who had arrived in Jamaica on 17 July 2026 after the small vessel in which they were travelling encountered difficulties. The individuals, comprising five men and three women, were subsequently taken into custody and charged with illegal entry. During their appearance before the St Catherine Parish Court on 31 July 2026, the deportation orders were presented by the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA). Their attorney subsequently indicated an intention to challenge the orders.
The development has prompted concern from the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches (JUGC), which has called on the Government to ensure that Haitians arriving in Jamaica seeking asylum or refuge are treated with dignity, fairness and compassion. The JUGC has urged the Government to establish and publicly communicate a clear and consistently applied protocol governing persons who arrive in Jamaica seeking asylum or refuge. The development raises concerns regarding access to asylum procedures, procedural safeguards, and the treatment of vulnerable persons fleeing Haiti amid its ongoing humanitarian and security crisis.