St. Lucia signs US agreement to facilitate deportation of third-country nationals
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Alva Baptiste
Key Points(5)
- Lucia government has signed a non-binding agreement with the United States that could allow Washington to transfer third-country nationals facing deportation to the Caribbean country.
- Baptiste stressed that the agreement is non-binding and that any proposed transfer would remain at the discretion of both governments.
- The MOU establishes a framework under which the US government may propose transferring third-country nationals to St.
- Lucian government would have the discretion to accept or reject each proposal, in whole or in part.
- Under the agreed operating procedures, individuals eligible for transfer would have to meet specific criteria, including having final or expedited orders of removal from the United States and receiving medical authorization to travel from the US Department of Homeland Security.
The St. Lucia government has signed a non-binding agreement with the United States that could allow Washington to transfer third-country nationals facing deportation to the Caribbean country.
External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs Minister Alva Baptiste told Parliament that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in Washington following discussions that began in 2025, when the US approached several CARICOM countries about cooperation on immigration matters.
Baptiste stressed that the agreement is non-binding and that any proposed transfer would remain at the discretion of both governments.
The MOU establishes a framework under which the US government may propose transferring third-country nationals to St. Lucia, while the St. Lucian government would have the discretion to accept or reject each proposal, in whole or in part.
"The MOU further states at Section 2.1, the Government of the United States of America may in its complete discretion propose to the Government of St Lucia the transfer of such third-country nationals, and the Government of St Lucia may in its complete discretion consider accepting such a proposal in whole or in part," Baptiste said.
Under the agreed operating procedures, individuals eligible for transfer would have to meet specific criteria, including having final or expedited orders of removal from the United States and receiving medical authorization to travel from the US Department of Homeland Security.
Certain individuals would be excluded from the arrangement.
They include unaccompanied minors under 18, St. Lucian citizens or nationals, and individuals with criminal records known to US authorities, except where those records relate to violations of US immigration law.
The agreement also establishes a preliminary limit of no more than 10 people per quarter who could be transferred to St. Lucia.
The US is expected to provide St. Lucian authorities with a flight manifest five days before a proposed removal. St. Lucia would then have two days to respond with the cases it accepts and identify anyone who should not be permitted to board the flight.
St. Lucia seeks US financial support
Baptiste said a major consideration for the government has been the financial cost of implementing the arrangement.
He said the Philip J. Pierre administration has limited resources and wants to ensure that any agreement does not place an undue burden on St. Lucia.
"The major consideration for St Lucia in all this has been the extent to which the United States was committed to financially support the programme it had requested of St Lucia to undertake, taking into account St Lucia's limited resources and circumstances," Baptiste told legislators.
"Given the potential policy, financial and institutional implications of such an arrangement, the government considered it necessary to undertake a comprehensive technical assessment to determine the resources, governance arrangements and financial commitments that would be required to implement the programme effectively," he added.
Baptiste said Cabinet last week approved a memorandum from the Ministry of External Affairs outlining St. Lucia's financial requirements for implementing the agreement.
The package has since been submitted to the US Embassy, with the government awaiting Washington's response.
The MOU also provides for US funding to be provided to a competent international organization to assist with services for people transferred under the arrangement.
St. Lucia has engaged the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to finalize that collaboration, Baptiste said, adding that negotiations are now in their third and final phase.
No immediate transfers planned
Baptiste said the government is proceeding with the arrangement while maintaining that protection of St. Lucia's national interest remains the priority.
No immediate transfers have been announced, and any deportations will depend on the outcome of ongoing negotiations, including agreement on St. Lucia's financial requirements.
The government has also pledged to keep the process transparent and provide updates as discussions with the United States continue.
