President Donald Trump’s sweeping deportation raids. Jamaican leaders and immigration attorneys here who spoke with the Jamaica Observer have been at pains to reassure obviously stressed out migrants that they have nothing to fear if they are properly documented. Fear bordering on panic has spread to communities of Jamaicans across the United States, touching even some with green cards who are terrified they could be swept up in President Donald Trump’s sweeping deportation raids.

Jamaican leaders and immigration attorneys here who spoke with the Jamaica Observer have been at pains to reassure obviously stressed out migrants that they have nothing to fear if they are properly documented. “I have been receiving many calls from people, some of whom are legal green card holders, expressing deep concerns about what is taking place,” said Rick Nugent, board chairman of the umbrella National Association of Jamaican and Supportive Organizations. “Some are literally scared to go about their normal business and there are reports of people not showing up for work. There is one particular situation where a tenant who is awaiting a response from immigration authorities regarding an application for permanent residency is afraid of remaining at her current address,” said Nugent, who is also president of the Jamaica Association of Maryland.