Dominica hopes US will reconsider visa restrictions, says Skerrit
Key Points(5)
- Dominica – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says he hopes the United States will “at the soonest opportunity” reconsider visa restrictions affecting Dominican nationals, particularly those seeking medical treatment and educational opportunities in the North American country.
- Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Skerrit recalled that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had indicated in February that Washington would review the visa arrangements by June this year.
- “It is for them to do that, and it’s not for us to do that.
- In an executive order issued last December, US President Donald Trump announced immigration restrictions affecting nationals of Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Haiti.
- Trump said that during his first administration he had restricted the entry of certain foreign nationals into the United States to prevent national security and public safety threats from reaching US borders.
Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says he hopes the United States will “at the soonest opportunity” reconsider visa restrictions affecting Dominican nationals, particularly those seeking medical treatment and educational opportunities in the North American country.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Skerrit recalled that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had indicated in February that Washington would review the visa arrangements by June this year.
“It is for them to do that, and it’s not for us to do that. We believe from our standpoint in engaging officers of the US Government that Dominica, and I would also speak on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda, would have taken all of the actions that we believe, though not officially by official note from them, but we believe that would have taken all of the actions that would cause the United States to reconsider its position on the visa restrictions of Dominican citizens and Antiguan and Barbudan citizens,” Skerrit told reporters.
In an executive order issued last December, US President Donald Trump announced immigration restrictions affecting nationals of Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Haiti.
Trump said that during his first administration he had restricted the entry of certain foreign nationals into the United States to prevent national security and public safety threats from reaching US borders.
According to the executive order, some countries have offered citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programmes without residency requirements, posing challenges for screening and vetting.
Under the CBI programme, several Caribbean countries, including Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, grant citizenship to foreign investors in exchange for substantial investments in their socio-economic development.
Trump said both Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica have “historically had CBI without residency” and announced that the entry into the United States of nationals from both countries as immigrants, and as non-immigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas, would be suspended.
He also said consular officers should reduce the validity period of any other non-immigrant visas issued to nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica “to the extent permitted by law”.
Skerrit said the government in Roseau has been engaged in discussions with Washington on the matter but stressed that any decision rests with the United States.
“Now, one understands in the scheme of things in this world and with the issues occupying the minds of the United States Government at this time, you would also appreciate where they would place such a matter,” he said, adding, “And so we do hope and urge the United States of America that we have had longstanding cultural and family ties.”
The Dominican leader said his administration remains hopeful that the longstanding relationship between the two countries will be taken into consideration as Washington reviews the restrictions.
