Antigua releases US proposal, counter-proposal on third-country nationals
Key Points(5)
- The Antigua and Barbuda Government Monday released to the public the proposal received from the United States Government concerning the operating procedures for the possible transfer of third-country nationals removed from the North America country.
- In addition, St John’s has also released its counter-proposal sent to Washington.
- “The Government is doing so in keeping with its commitment to transparency and to keeping Parliament and the people of Antigua and Barbuda fully informed on a matter involving the country’s sovereignty, security, laws, public finances and national interest,” said an official statement issue Monday.
- Congratulations, Dr Marcus Steele Advertorial, Latest News Congratulations, Dr Marcus Steele September 27, 2026 It maintained that “no agreement has been concluded” and that the United States document is a proposal and the Antigua and Barbuda document is a counter-proposal.
- “Discussions between the two governments are continuing.
The Antigua and Barbuda Government has released the United States’ proposal for the possible transfer of third-country nationals removed from the US, along with its own counter-proposal outlining conditions for any such arrangement.
The documents were released Monday and are to be tabled in the House of Representatives by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Sir Steadroy Benjamin.
The government stressed that no agreement has been reached and that discussions with Washington are continuing.
“The United States document is a proposal and the Antigua and Barbuda document is a counter-proposal,” the government said in a statement.
The discussions form part of a wider US initiative involving countries in different regions, including several members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Some CARICOM countries have already entered into arrangements with the US, while others are still considering proposals.
Antigua and Barbuda said it is assessing whether it can cooperate with Washington while protecting its national interests, sovereignty and limited capacity.
Under the counter-proposal, every person proposed for transfer would have to be considered individually and receive the prior express written approval of the Antigua and Barbuda Government.
The proposal would also limit transfers to a maximum of seven people in any three-month period. The government said the figure is a ceiling, not a quota or an obligation to accept any particular number of people.
The proposed procedures also include requirements covering eligibility, criminal and security screening, health, immigration history, protection claims and valid travel documents.
Each person would have to be informed that Antigua and Barbuda is the destination, understand that the arrangement would be temporary and indicate in writing a willingness to be transferred. Their admission and temporary stay would be governed by Antigua and Barbuda’s laws.
The counter-proposal further calls for financial and operational arrangements to ensure that the costs associated with receiving and supporting transferred individuals do not fall on Antigua and Barbuda taxpayers.
It also requires arrangements for the lawful return or onward placement of individuals when their temporary stay ends.
The government would retain the right to suspend further transfers if concerns arise over national security, public order, public health, capacity, finances or other serious matters.
The counter-proposal also envisages a possible supporting role for the International Organization for Migration, subject to the agency’s requirements and arrangements with the Antigua and Barbuda Government.
“The Government emphasises that the sovereign decision whether to accept or refuse any person proposed for transfer will remain with Antigua and Barbuda in every individual case,” the statement said.
The release follows the government’s decision in July to establish a parliamentary framework for any possible arrangement with Washington. That framework rejected an automatic or open-ended programme and required Antigua and Barbuda to retain the authority to approve or reject individuals on a case-by-case basis.
The government said publishing both documents and placing them before Parliament is intended to provide transparency on an issue involving national sovereignty, security, law, public finances and the national interest.
Earlier this month, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US, Sir Ronald Sanders, said negotiations were expected to resume at Washington’s request and stressed that no final agreement had been reached and no transfers had been authorised.
