The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has made clear that any agreement to accept third-country nationals deported from the United States must deliver concrete benefits to the country — chief among them, the removal of blanket U.S. visa restrictions currently affecting Antiguan and Barbudan citizens.
The position is laid out in a newly released White Paper detailing the Government's stance on discussions with Washington regarding the possible transfer of third-country deportees to Antigua and Barbuda.
While the Government says it is prepared to engage the United States "in a spirit of friendship and cooperation," it argues that goodwill alone cannot justify assuming responsibility for individuals who are not Antiguan 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.
The Government acknowledges that the United States retains the sovereign right to deny visas to individuals it deems ineligible, but argues that broader restrictions applied to Antiguan nationals as a whole should be lifted if the country is expected to support U.S. immigration enforcement efforts.
The document is explicit that any reciprocal benefit must be clearly defined, committed to in writing, and capable of objective measurement. "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," it states.
Financial commitments from the United States, while described as essential, would not on their own qualify as reciprocal benefits. The White Paper stipulates that the U.S. or another approved agency must first guarantee in writing the full cost of housing, healthcare, welfare, security, administrative processing, and any future removal or onward travel for each individual transferred. These protections are characterised as minimum safeguards, not incentives.
Antigua and Barbuda has also firmly rejected the concept of a standing programme under which deportees would be routinely transferred to the country. The Government instead proposes evaluating cases individually, retaining full sovereign discretion to approve or reject any person put forward by U.S. authorities.
As part of its counter-proposal, the Government has suggested that no more than 10 individuals 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 point to Antigua and Barbuda's small population and limited public resources as key factors requiring a cautious approach. The White Paper warns that accepting undocumented individuals who subsequently claim asylum or cannot be repatriated could expose the country to significant long-term legal and financial obligations under international conventions.
The Government says it has engaged the issue in recognition of its longstanding relationship with the United States and in light of the fact that several other Caribbean nations have already entered into similar arrangements with Washington. It maintains, however, 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 assistance rendered to the United States produces tangible benefits for the Antiguan and Barbudan people.
