The United States has finalized contentious migration agreements with seven Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states, compelling them to accept asylum seekers facing deportation from American territory. The negotiated arrangements with Guyana, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Barbados have sparked diplomatic tensions and revealed internal divisions within the regional bloc.
According to Terrence Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, nations resisting cooperation faced implicit threats of retaliatory measures from Washington, including visa restrictions and complications in international banking transactions. The negotiations exposed the challenging balance smaller island economies must strike between economic pragmatism and political sovereignty when engaging with global superpowers.
The settlement includes specific provisions requiring candidates to possess clean criminal records, full financial coverage from the United States for transportation, accommodation, and sustenance, and prioritization of CARICOM nationals caught in migratory deadlock.
Barbados’ Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds openly characterized the agreement as ‘unwilling,’ acknowledging the disproportionate pressure applied by Washington that small economies could not reasonably disregard. Antigua and Barbuda negotiated stringent conditions including an annual cap of ten asylum seekers, English fluency requirements, professional training mandates, and limited 24-month residency rights with a 90-day termination clause.
Notably, Saint Kitts and Nevis—despite its leadership role in CARICOM—declared it would not accept Haitian refugees, citing security apprehensions that highlight internal regional tensions regarding Haitian immigration patterns.
Guyana adopted an alternative approach, viewing the situation as an opportunity to address its substantial workforce deficit amid rapid economic expansion. The South American nation aims to attract approximately 80,000 skilled workers through this initiative, though opposition groups criticize the policy as accepting ‘unwanted populations’ from other nations.
The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States has established a technical committee to monitor implementation, while the United States has set an annual ceiling of 7,500 refugees for the 2026 relocation program.