Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has clarified that Dominica has not established specific numerical commitments regarding the potential acceptance of third-country refugees deported from the United States. During a press briefing on Thursday evening, Skerrit characterized the arrangement as a contingency measure requested by the U.S. government to address immigration challenges.
The development follows the December 16, 2025 proclamation that imposed partial visa restrictions on Dominica. Skerrit emphasized the preliminary nature of discussions, stating, “We have not decided how many people we are going to be taking. And as a matter of fact, we may never end up having anybody to come.”
The Prime Minister framed the consideration as an act of diplomatic cooperation, noting: “We consider ourselves to be a friend to the United States and we believe that we are in a position, as small as we are, to assist the United States in addressing an issue it determines to be a national priority.”
Crucially, Skerrit outlined several protective mechanisms within the Memorandum of Understanding between the nations. The agreement enables Dominica to reject any individuals deemed potentially problematic after thorough review. “They give you the background of these people, their criminal history, their medical history,” Skerrit explained, adding that Dominica retains absolute discretion to refuse applicants based on security assessments.
The Prime Minister committed to public transparency, pledging that any formal requests from the U.S. would be disclosed to Dominican citizens once received by the government.