The government of Antigua and Barbuda has initiated urgent diplomatic discussions with United States authorities following President Donald Trump’s executive order imposing visa restrictions on nationals from several CARICOM countries. The Caribbean nation finds itself included in the travel limitations due to concerns regarding its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program.
Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders confirmed ongoing negotiations with the U.S. State Department, seeking clarification on visa statuses for citizens who obtained documentation prior to December 2025. The diplomatic efforts aim to address the specific concern raised by the Trump administration regarding historical absence of residency requirements within Antigua and Barbuda’s investment migration program.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne expressed profound disappointment with the proclamation, asserting that the characterization of Antigua and Barbuda’s CBI program fails to reflect current legislative realities. Browne emphasized that over the past year, his administration has collaborated extensively with multiple U.S. government agencies to implement robust safeguards within the citizenship program.
Substantial reforms have been enacted through comprehensive new legislation strengthening due diligence protocols, transparency measures, information-sharing mechanisms, and enforcement procedures. Most significantly, the updated laws now mandate a 30-day physical residency requirement as a strict condition for citizenship qualification—directly contradicting the U.S. administration’s stated rationale for the restrictions.
Notably, U.S. State Department officials reportedly expressed surprise regarding the proclamation’s issuance, indicating possible internal coordination gaps within the American government. Prime Browne has committed to pursuing both diplomatic channels and direct correspondence with President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to resolve the situation.
The Trump administration’s executive order cites security concerns regarding CBI programs, arguing they could potentially enable individuals from restricted nations to circumvent travel limitations through citizenship acquisition. Historical susceptibility to identity concealment and financial evasion risks were additionally cited as justification for the policy implementation.
Antigua and Barbuda values its longstanding relationship with the United States, which represents its most significant trading partner. The government has pledged to employ all available diplomatic means to preserve bilateral relations founded on mutual respect and accurate understanding of recently implemented immigration safeguards.