# US third-country deportation operations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-third-country-deportation-operations
> Updated: 2026-10-13T19:07:09.000Z. Sources: 19. Developments: 2.

The United States has implemented third-country deportation arrangements involving various nations. In late September, a flight of Cuban deportees arrived at Havana’s José Martí International Airport from Louisiana. While Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior did not issue an official statement, family testimonies confirmed the arrival of individuals, including one man who had been in immigration custody for ten months.

By mid-October, Jamaica began receiving its first group of third-country deportees under a bilateral memorandum of understanding signed in June. An inaugural flight carrying 22 adults, including seven women and primarily South American nationals, arrived at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is tasked with managing reception, housing, and onward travel.

The Jamaican government has designated the country as a temporary transit hub rather than a permanent destination. Under the agreement, arrivals are capped at 25 persons every two weeks, and the government has pledged not to accept individuals with criminal records. The program aims to facilitate the return of migrants to their home countries or other receiving nations.

The arrangement has faced domestic criticism from the opposition People’s National Party. Critics have demanded full disclosure of the agreement in Parliament, citing concerns regarding transparency, national security, and the legal implications of the deal.

## Claims

- Jamaica is acting as a temporary transit hub for migrants rather than a permanent destination. (corroborated by 14 sources)
- The first group of deportees consisted of 22 adults, including seven women, many of whom are South American nationals. (corroborated by 14 sources)
- The program will cap arrivals at a maximum of 25 people every two weeks. (corroborated by 10 sources)
- The IOM is responsible for the reception, housing, and further travel of the deportees. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- At least 35 countries have entered into third-country deportation agreements with the United States. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The Trump administration has earmarked approximately $410 million to support third-country deportation efforts. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The People’s National Party (PNP) has demanded the full memorandum of understanding be tabled in Parliament. (single source)
- The government has pledged not to accept any deportees with criminal records. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-13: Jamaica receives first U.S. third-country deportees under transit deal

Jamaica has received its first flight of 22 third-country deportees from the U.S. under a new transit agreement, sparking domestic political debate over transparency and security.

17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jamaica-begins-receiving-us-third-country-deportees

### 2026-09-26: Cuba receives new flight of deportees from the United States

A GlobalX flight transported Cuban deportees from Louisiana to Havana on September 24, though Cuban authorities provided no official confirmation of the operation or the number of people returned.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cuba-receives-new-flight-of-deportees-from-the-united-states

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Cite as: US third-country deportation operations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-third-country-deportation-operations