Antigua and Barbuda Parliament approves framework for U.S. talks on third-country nationals

The Antigua and Barbuda Parliament has approved a resolution allowing the government to continue negotiations with the United States over the possible transfer of third-country nationals, while establishing strict conditions that give the government full authority over whether any individual can be accepted.

The resolution, tabled by Prime Minister Gaston Browne following a day-long debate, does not approve any agreement with Washington or authorize the transfer of any person to Antigua and Barbuda.

Instead, it provides a framework for ongoing discussions with the United States and outlines 12 principles aimed at protecting the country’s sovereignty, national security, legal obligations and financial interests.

Under the resolution, the government is authorized to continue negotiations with Washington in a spirit of cooperation while ensuring that any arrangement respects Antigua and Barbuda’s laws, security requirements, resources and national interests.

The framework rejects any automatic or open-ended arrangement that would allow the United States to transfer predetermined numbers of third-country nationals to Antigua and Barbuda.

Any potential transfer must receive prior approval from the government and will be considered on an individual basis.

The resolution states that only the number of people Antigua and Barbuda determines it can responsibly accommodate may be considered, based on factors including public resources, national security, international and domestic law, available funding and the country’s capacity to absorb additional individuals.

Before any person is accepted, the government must receive adequate information about their identity and suitability. Written agreements must also be established covering documentation, funding, accommodation, legal status and long-term responsibility.

The government would retain the right to refuse entry to any individual whose documents are incomplete or inaccurate and require their immediate return at no cost to Antigua and Barbuda.

The resolution also requires that all expenses linked to any future arrangement — including accommodation, healthcare, security, administration and possible onward movement or return — must be covered through funding agreements established in advance.

It further allows the government to suspend or end any arrangement if it determines that doing so is necessary to protect the country’s sovereignty, security, laws or national interests.

The final provision clarifies that the resolution does not represent parliamentary approval of any draft operating procedures currently being discussed with the United States and does not authorize the transfer of any individual.

Presenting the resolution, Browne said it was designed to create “clear principles and safeguards” while allowing Antigua and Barbuda to negotiate with Washington without compromising its independence.

“It affirms that Antigua and Barbuda retains complete sovereign discretion. It requires full vetting, full funding, complete documentation and clear legal status for any person who may be considered. It preserves our right to suspend or terminate any arrangement should circumstances warrant,” Browne said.

The prime minister said the government was attempting to balance the protection of national sovereignty with maintaining an important relationship with the United States.

“We value our friendships, but we also value our independence and the quality of life of our people,” he said. “Cooperation must be fair. Cooperation has to be balanced and it must be consistent with our national interests.”

During the debate, Browne said Antigua and Barbuda would rather face possible U.S. visa restrictions than accept individuals who pose a threat to national security.

“If we were faced with an option of not taking criminals and to have visa restrictions, we’ll go for the visa restrictions because accepting criminals will destroy our country,” he said.

He said any future arrangement would only allow consideration of individuals whose offences involved immigration or visa violations.

Browne also disclosed that Antigua and Barbuda intends to seek up to US$75,000 for each individual accepted under any future agreement, arguing that the country’s higher cost of living requires greater financial support than what has reportedly been offered to other participating countries.

Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin emphasized that the resolution should not be viewed as approval of a final agreement because no such agreement currently exists.

“The White Paper is not presented as a complete agreement, nor is this House being asked to approve a conclusive operating agreement. None exists,” Benjamin told Parliament.

He said the legislature’s role was to establish the principles guiding the negotiations, while the government would continue handling the details of any potential arrangement.

Benjamin also disclosed that Antigua and Barbuda accepted five of its own nationals deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement between March 2025 and June 2026, noting that this obligation differs from accepting citizens of other countries.

“Every nation has a duty to receive its own citizens,” he said, adding that no similar obligation exists regarding third-country nationals.

Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene defended the government’s decision to continue discussions with Washington, saying engagement does not mean acceptance.

“We engage because responsible governments do,” Greene said. “They do not make important decisions in ignorance. They do not refuse to listen before they know what is being proposed. And they do not confuse engagement with agreement.”

Greene said Antigua and Barbuda rejected important parts of the initial U.S. proposal because they did not sufficiently protect the country’s interests.

He said the government responded with counterproposals that narrowed the categories of individuals who could be considered, reduced proposed numbers, strengthened documentation requirements and required the United States to assume all financial responsibilities.

“That is not capitulation. That is negotiation. That is the essence, the true form, of diplomacy,” Greene said.

He also praised Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, for leading negotiations and defending the country’s legal, financial and security interests.

Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez urged lawmakers to consider the wider economic implications of the discussions, highlighting Antigua and Barbuda’s dependence on the United States as its largest tourism market.

Fernandez said tourism contributes approximately 60 to 65 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and warned that a breakdown in relations with Washington could have serious economic consequences.

“If we lose our tourism, 60, 65 percent of GDP [would go] down the drain,” he said.

He described the negotiations as a balancing act between protecting Antigua and Barbuda’s sovereignty and safeguarding an industry that supports thousands of livelihoods.

However, opposition voices questioned the government’s approach.

Barbuda MP Trevor Walker argued that Antigua and Barbuda was negotiating from a position of weakness because of existing U.S. visa restrictions and questioned whether the country had sufficient leverage.

“Antigua and Barbuda don’t have no cards,” Walker said.

He called for greater public consultation and a coordinated CARICOM approach, while also questioning why Parliament was considering an unsigned memorandum rather than a finalized agreement.

Government lawmakers rejected those criticisms, arguing that negotiations had already resulted in major changes to the original U.S. proposal and that the resolution ensures Antigua and Barbuda maintains full control over any future decision.

With the resolution approved, the Browne administration now has parliamentary authority to continue discussions with the United States. Any future arrangement, however, must comply with the 12 principles approved by Parliament, including case-by-case approval, complete government discretion, full funding, legal safeguards and the right to reject, suspend or terminate any agreement deemed contrary to the national interest.