Deportation fears rock undocumented Jamaicans - Trump immigration crackdown has many illegal immigrants worried

For some undocumented Jamaicans living in the US, every day is a delicate balancing act between having hope for a better future, and fearing deportation.

Jill* left Jamaica on a visitor's visa two years ago; however, what started out as a three-month visit quickly turned into an indefinite stay when she realised the opportunities available overseas.

"I used to work at a call centre, but the pay only allowed us to get by. It wasn't enough for my daughter to have a good life. So, coming here was my chance to give her a better life," said Jill, whose seven-year-old daughter is being cared for by Jill's mother. After Florida implemented stricter immigration enforcement last year, Jill moved to a northern state that was more welcoming of immigrants. However, with the recent surge in deportation operations under President Donald Trump's administration, Jill lives in constant fear.

"Mi nah tell nuh lie, mi fraid bad, and I have to be really careful," Jill said. "If it's not work, supermarket, or home, I don't go nowhere. Mi duh mi best fi blend in and try not stand out or cause any problem." Jill told THE STAR that the thought of deportation is unbearable, and she is considering paying someone to marry her in order to gain legal residency.

"If I get deported, that's going to be on my record. I won't be able to get a job or take care of my daughter. And the plan was always to straighten up myself and bring her here, and even though Trump doing all of this, that is still my plan; giving my daughter a better life is my number one priority," Jill said.

In recent raids, authorities detained more than 2,000 individuals, with nearly half classified as nonviolent or civil offenders whose only violation was entering the country without proper documentation. Dave*, who is in his late 20s, moved to the US in 2021, settling in a southern state known for its tough stance on immigration. To make ends meet, he works as an illegal taxi driver, often transporting other undocumented immigrants. Each trip is filled with risk.

"Every time mi get behind the wheel, mi nervous because mi know it could be the last time mi see mi family," Dave said. "One police stop could mean deportation fi mi, and then what? Mi woulda lose everything mi build here."

Dave told THE STAR that initially, he believed that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents would only be targeting immigrants with criminal records, but he was wrong.

"Dem nuh care. Dem a tek in everybody, even those without a criminal record," said Dave, adding that his friend who is also an illegal immigrant was captured on Tuesday. Despite the constant threat of deportation, Dave insisted that moving to the US was the best decision for him and his family.

"It was illegal, but mi couldn't stay a Jamaica. Mi wouldn't be able to provide fi mi kids the way mi can now. Sometimes you affi tek di risk," he admitted. Dave's hopes for a stable future rest on his partner, a Jamaica-born, US citizen, and the mother of his children. However, her ongoing divorce has delayed their plans to marry, leaving him in legal limbo.

Dr Shauna Chin, vice chair of Jamaica's Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, and the US West and Midwest representative, said that the organisation's position has to align with the government's stance, which is that Jamaica cannot refuse its citizens from any host country.

"So there's little that can be done to stop mass deportation. What we have been doing, though, is preparing our nationals on how to regularise their status and providing them with resources to be ready if they have to be removed," Chin explained. She noted that these efforts have been ongoing since she assumed office four years ago, but the topic has largely been ignored.

"Because it's not a 'sexy' topic, nobody's been really paying attention. Now, with this new administration, everyone's panicking, and that's the approach I want to change. We have to be more proactive," she added. Chin was recently appointed as the honorary consul designate in Los Angeles. Once she officially assumes that role, she plans to prioritise outreach to the Jamaican community by working with ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials to share accurate, timely information.

"This way, we can minimise the fearmongering while still respecting the laws of our host country," Chin said.

*names changed to protect identity