Jamaica has received its first flight carrying 22 non-citizen deportees from the United States under a new bilateral transit arrangement, while Burkina Faso and Nigeria have firmly refused to accept foreign third-country deportees on their territories.
A new report has revealed that the Caribbean island of Jamaica received its first flight carrying 22 non-citizen deportees from the U.S. at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. Meanwhile, some African nations have firmly refused to allow Donald Trump’s administration to send foreign third-country deportees to their territories.
Jamaica: A “Transit Arrangement”
According to Jamaican authorities, the bilateral arrangement allows the island to host non-criminal deportees on a temporary basis before they are sent to their home nations or other receiving destinations.
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In a joint statement, Jamaica’s Ministry of National Security and Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that “the government reiterates that this is a transit arrangement intended to facilitate the return of Third Country Nationals to their country of origin or other receiving countries.
Local Opposition Raises Security Concerns
However, local opposition leaders have expressed strong security concerns about the secret deal.
Fitz Jackson, an opposition spokesperson on national security, stated that “Jamaicans are being asked to trust a secret document that touches their security, their communities and their public services.”
Burkina Faso: “Not a Land of Deportation”
In West Africa, governments are taking a vastly different stance by outright refusing American requests to absorb foreign deportees.
Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore criticized the American initiative during a broadcast, declaring that “Burkina Faso is not a land of deportation.”
Traore added that his nation’s open-door policy towards Africans “should not be seen as an opportunity for a third country to get rid of certain populations that it considers undesirable.
Nigeria: “That Ship Has Sailed”
Similarly, former Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar announced that his country will not accept third-country deportees from the United States.
Speaking at a summit in Abu Dhabi, Tuggar stated that “That ship has sailed” and added that “We don’t see the need to take nationals from other countries under duress.
Tuggar also remarked that wealthy nations should stop treating international relations with Africa “like the game Minecraft” where natural resources are simply mined, calling instead for economic partnership built on mutual respect.
Key Details at a Glance
| Country | Position |
|---|---|
| Jamaica | Accepted 22 non-citizen deportees under temporary transit arrangement |
| Burkina Faso | Refused — “Not a land of deportation” |
| Nigeria | Refused — “That ship has sailed” |
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on October 15, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
