Jamaica is negotiating an agreement with the United States to allow the transfer of deported migrants through its territory prior to their repatriation or relocation to third countries, Jamaican officials announced Wednesday. The arrangement aims to facilitate the U.S. government’s efforts to expel migrants, including those with no direct connection to the countries receiving them.

Under the prospective deal, Jamaica would accept up to 25 migrants every two weeks, with no more than 25 remaining in the country at any given time, according to Horace Chang, Jamaica’s security minister and deputy prime minister. He emphasized that individuals with criminal records would be excluded from the arrangement. The costs associated with housing the migrants would be covered by the U.S. government. Although the agreement has been signed, operational procedures are still being finalized before Jamaica begins receiving migrants.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security described the deportations as lawful and part of a broader effort to repatriate foreigners, stating that the administration was employing every legal means to conduct what it termed the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. The official also affirmed that deported individuals had been afforded due process.

This agreement represents another example of the Trump administration’s attempt to integrate immigration policy with foreign relations by seeking countries willing to accept migrants detained in the United States. Multiple nations worldwide have entered into similar arrangements, often involving financial incentives or potential diplomatic benefits. When asked about Jamaica’s compensation or gains from the deal, Mr. Chang declined to specify, framing the agreement as a means to maintain a “healthy bilateral relationship” and referring to the U.S. as a “friend.”

The practice of transferring deported migrants through third countries has faced extensive criticism in other parts of the region, including in El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama, where it has sparked legal challenges and condemnation from human rights organizations. Critics point to concerns over the treatment and detention conditions of migrants, as well as allegations that sending individuals to countries where they may face persecution violates international refugee protections.

Mr. Chang noted that migrants sent to Jamaica would not be detained and that the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency, would manage their accommodations. Details regarding the specific profiles of migrants Jamaica might receive remain under discussion, with a preference indicated for English speakers, though no assurances were provided.

The IOM did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the arrangement.