KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith says Jamaica has seen little movement towards resuming the immigrant visa processing for the United States after Washington announced a freeze on processing for 75 countries in January.
According to Johnson Smith, the government is still in the dark as to why Jamaica was included.
”There has been engagement. There has not been any clarity on the basis for which Jamaica was placed on that list. In fact, the general sentiment is one of surprise, but it is a broad examination of processes where we’re advised that the system is paused. We remain engaged and open to providing any requested information. But generally, there has been a sense of openness to engagement and recognition that Jamaicans generally are productive members of the diaspora community, and we continue to leverage that in discussions that we hold,” she advised.
Johnson Smith was speaking at a post-Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday.
On January 4, US President Donald Trump posted a list of 120 countries whose citizens received the most welfare benefits in the US on his Truth Social account.
The list of 75 aligns with some of the highest recipients, including Jamaica.
and then 