Antigua Seeks End to Blanket U.S. Visa Restrictions in Return for Deportee Cooperation

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda says any agreement to accept third-country nationals removed from the United States must provide clear benefits to the country, including the removal of blanket U.S. visa restrictions affecting Antiguan and Barbudan citizens.

The position is outlined in the Government’s newly released White Paper on discussions with the United States regarding the possible transfer of third-country nationals deported from the U.S.

While the Government maintains it is willing to engage Washington “in a spirit of friendship and cooperation,” it argues that goodwill alone cannot justify Antigua and Barbuda assuming responsibility for individuals who are not its nationals.

“If Antigua and Barbuda is to contemplate receiving third-country nationals who are not its nationals, in order to assist the United States with the practical execution of its migration policy, there must also be a clear and commensurate reciprocal benefit to Antigua and Barbuda in the national interest,” the White Paper states.

Among the benefits sought is the lifting of what the Government describes as blanket visa restrictions imposed on Antigua and Barbuda. The White Paper acknowledges that the United States retains the sovereign right to deny visas to individuals it considers ineligible but argues that broader restrictions affecting Antiguan nationals should be removed if the country is expected to assist with U.S. immigration enforcement.

The document stresses that any reciprocal benefit must be clearly defined, committed to in writing and capable of objective value.

“Goodwill alone is not sufficient. Nor can vague expectations of favourable treatment elsewhere be regarded as an adequate foundation for a decision of this kind,” the Government states.

The White Paper makes clear that financial commitments from the United States, while essential, would not themselves constitute reciprocal benefits.

Government says the United States or another approved agency would first have to guarantee in writing the full cost of housing, healthcare, welfare, security, administrative processing and any future removal or onward travel of each individual before any transfer could proceed. Those protections are described as minimum safeguards rather than incentives for Antigua and Barbuda’s participation.

The paper also reiterates that Antigua and Barbuda has rejected the idea of a standing programme under which deportees would routinely be transferred to the country. Instead, the Government proposes considering cases individually, with complete sovereign discretion to approve or reject any person put forward by U.S. authorities.

As part of its counter-proposal, the Government says no more than 10 people would be considered for transfer during 2026, after which the arrangement would be reviewed based on the country’s experience, institutional capacity and national interest.

Officials argue that Antigua and Barbuda’s small population, limited public resources and international legal obligations require a cautious approach to any arrangement involving third-country nationals. The White Paper warns that accepting undocumented individuals who later claim asylum or cannot be repatriated could expose the country to significant long-term legal and financial responsibilities under international conventions.

The Government says it has engaged the issue because of its longstanding relationship with the United States and because several Caribbean countries have already entered into similar understandings with Washington. However, it maintains that cooperation cannot come at the expense of Antigua and Barbuda’s sovereignty or national interests.

The White Paper concludes that any future agreement must be “lawful, limited, fully funded, carefully controlled, and plainly consistent with Antigua and Barbuda’s sovereignty, capacity, and international obligations,” while ensuring that any assistance provided to the United States delivers tangible benefits for the people of Antigua and Barbuda.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: White Paper: Government Wants U.S. Visa Restrictions Lifted Before Accepting Deportees.