Antigua and Barbuda is prepared to accept up to 10 third-country nationals, including refugees, from the United States each year, but only if Washington provides strong assurances that each person has undergone comprehensive background checks and is carrying valid travel documents. Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the government is open to cooperating with the United States on migration matters, but not at the expense of national safety and security.
Speaking on his weekly radio programme, Browne said even one criminal entering the country could have serious consequences for a small island state. He said Antigua and Barbuda cannot accept people who arrive without proper identification or legal travel papers, warning that some migrants may destroy their documents after reaching the United States, which could leave them stateless and difficult to manage.
Browne said his administration has made its position clear to U.S. officials: the country is willing to help, but only on terms that protect its own interests. He stressed that Antigua and Barbuda will not agree to any arrangement that is harmful to the nation. The prime minister added that the government wants to maintain cooperative relations with Washington, while also defending the country’s sovereignty and security.
In January, officials said Antigua and Barbuda had not signed any binding agreement with the United States to accept deportees or refugees. At that time, the government said the only proposal under review was a non-binding memorandum of understanding offered by Washington as part of a wider effort to share responsibility for refugees already in the United States. Officials said Antigua and Barbuda was among more than 100 countries approached, including several CARICOM member states.
Browne also said an earlier proposal had reportedly asked Antigua and Barbuda to accept as many as 120 people, but without any firm guarantees of assistance or proper vetting. He said that offer was rejected as unacceptable. According to the prime minister, talks with the U.S. State Department are still continuing, and the government is waiting for a response to its concerns.
The issue comes as other Caribbean countries move ahead with similar arrangements. Last month, St. Kitts and Nevis said it had received its first group of U.S.-transferred third-country deportees under a bilateral deal with Washington. That group included three CARICOM nationals from Jamaica and Belize who arrived under a programme involving people accused of immigration violations.
Browne said Antigua and Barbuda will continue to protect its borders and national interests, and will not enter into any agreement that could threaten the safety of its people. He reiterated that the government wants good relations with the United States, but believes cooperation must be balanced with caution and clear safeguards.
