Immigration to Jamaica

Immigration to Jamaica has historically affected the country in large ways as a result of the history of European colonization of the Americas. In the modern age, immigration is the responsibility of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), an agency of the Government of Jamaica.[1] By the late 2010s emigration continued to be greatly in excess of immigration.[2]

## History

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Jamaica is a richly diverse country in ethnicity due to the history of colonialism, slavery and immigration.[3] The population is primarily descended from people of mixed African and European descent.[4]

The Spanish were the first Europeans to land at Jamaica and they enslaved many of the Arawak.[5] The first Africans arrived in Jamaica in 1513 from Spain.[6] The first Irish people came to Jamaica after the English won control of the island from the Spanish in 1655.[7] Many of them came to the island as indentured servants.[8]

Oliver Cromwell increased the island's European population by sending indentured servants and prisoners to Jamaica.[9] Due to Irish emigration resulting from the wars in Ireland at this time two-thirds of this 17th-century European population was Irish.[10] By 1763, the ratio of blacks to whites had grown to thirty blacks to every one white person.[11]

After 1809, when the slave trade was abolished, an estimated 1,000,000 Africans were transported to the island.[12] By the 19th century the black population vastly outnumbered the white population.[13] The Syrian-Lebanese community was established in Jamaica in the early 19th century.[14][15]

Numerous Chinese migrants who worked on the construction of the Panama Canal settled in Jamaica. In 1931 the Jamaican government issued a decree that limited the inflow of Chinese to students under the age of 14.[16] The net migration figures in Jamaica from 2002 to 2019 was -270,000.[17]

Haitian refugees have travelled to Jamaica.[18][19] The settlement of refugees in Jamaica has been not uncontroversial.[20][21] Deportations are administered by the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA).[22] In March 2023, PICA employees striked over pay.[23] As a result, there was disruption at the islands two international airports.[24]

## By country

[edit]

### America

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Main article: Jamaican Americans

### China

[edit]

Main article: Chinese Jamaicans

Chinese immigrants came to Jamaica in three major waves; 1854-1884, 1900-1940 and the 1980s.[25]

### England

[edit]

Main article: English Jamaicans

### France

[edit]

Main article: French immigration to Jamaica

French immigration to Jamaica began in 1791.

### Dominican Republic

[edit]

### Haiti

[edit]

### Germany

[edit]

Main article: Germans in Jamaica

### India

[edit]

Main article: Indo-Jamaicans

The first Indians came to Jamaica aboard the S. Blundel Hunter on 10 May 1845.[26]

### Ireland

[edit]

Main article: Irish people in Jamaica

### Japan

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Main article: Japanese expatriates in Jamaica

### Lebanon

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Main article: Lebanese Jamaicans

### Scotland

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Main article: Scottish Jamaicans

### Spain

[edit]

Main article: Jamaicans of Spanish descent

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency". www.pica.gov.jm. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
2. ^ "Migration in Jamaica: A Country Profile 2018". `{{cite journal}}`: Cite journal requires `|journal=` (help)
3. ^ "What did the different ethnic groups bring to Jamaica?". My-Island-Jamaica.com. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
4. ^ "BAME We're Not the Same: Black Caribbean". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
5. ^ "History of Jamaica". Black History Month 2025. 2008-02-14. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
6. ^ Law, Laurel (2024-06-28). "Did the Africans come to Jamaica?". Geographic FAQ Hub: Answers to Your Global Questions. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
7. ^ "Arrival of the Irish". jamaicatimeline.com. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
8. ^ Archives, The National (2013-03-11). "The National Archives - Irish indentured labour in the Caribbean". The National Archives blog. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
9. ^ "How a huge Irish community came to be in Jamaica". IrishCentral.com. 2010-06-23. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
10. ^ "History of Jamaica". Black History Month 2025. 2008-02-14. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
11. ^ "Arrival of the Africans in Jamaica - Jamaica Timeline". jamaicatimeline.com. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
12. ^ "Annual number of slaves brought from Africa to Jamaica 1607-1840 | Statista". Statista. Archived from the original on 2023-07-08. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
13. ^ McKay, Anna Lois (2024-09-02). "Empire-builders: Interactions between Convicts and Enslaved, Free, and Military Workers in Bermuda's Dockyards, 1824–1838". The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History. 52 (4–5): 779–807\. doi:10.1080/03086534.2024.2375869. ISSN 0308-6534.4–5&rft.pages=779-807&rft.date=2024-09-02&rft_id=info:doi/10.1080/03086534.2024.2375869&rft.issn=0308-6534&rft.aulast=McKay&rft.aufirst=Anna+Lois&rft_id=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03086534.2024.2375869&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Immigration+to+Jamaica" class="Z3988">
14. ^ "Open the gates to our Jamaican DNA… from Syria - Jamaica Observer". www.jamaicaobserver.com. 2015-08-31. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
15. ^ "Syrian war and Jamaica". jamaica-gleaner.com. 2015-09-13. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
16. ^ Chappell, Alex Glennie and Laura (2010-06-16). "Jamaica: From Diverse Beginning to Diaspora in the Developed World". migrationpolicy.org. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
17. ^ lyonsr@jamaicaobserver.com, ROMARDO LYONS Staff reporter (2021-11-28). "High migration numbers, as more Jamaicans take off - Jamaica Observer". www.jamaicaobserver.com. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
18. ^ "What is the Jamaican government's position on Haitian refugees?". Global Voices. 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
19. ^ "'A different Haiti now'". jamaica-gleaner.com. 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
20. ^ "Do not allow Syrian refugees entry to Jamaica - Jamaica Observer". www.jamaicaobserver.com. 2015-11-22. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
21. ^ "Latest group of Haitians being returned, lawyer warns Jamaica 'breaking' int'l law". jamaica-gleaner.com. 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
22. ^ "Flight with over 200 Indians to depart today - Jamaica Observer". www.jamaicaobserver.com. 2024-05-06. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
23. ^ Morgan, Micaiah (2023-03-13). "Immigration officers in Jamaica on strike over Government's compensation review exercise". CNW Network. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
24. ^ "Immigration Officers Agree To End Protest". radiojamaicanewsonline. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
25. ^ "Arrival of the Chinese in Jamaica". jamaicatimeline.com. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
26. ^ Korney, Stephanie (2017-09-27). "10 Contributions Indian Immigrants Made to Jamaica". Jamaicans.com. Retrieved 2023-03-19.

## See also

[edit]

* Demographics of Jamaica

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