BASSETERRE, St Kitts — On May 20, 2026, the government of St Kitts and Nevis confirmed the arrival of three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals — one Jamaican and two Belizeans — transferred to the federation after being deported from the United States, under a pre-existing bilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) covering third-country national transfers.
In an official public statement addressing the transfer, the St Kitts and Nevis government clarified that the movement of the three individuals was carried out strictly in line with the terms of the agreement between the twin-island federation and the U.S. government, which applies specifically to CARICOM citizens that are third-country nationals in U.S. migration custody. Importantly, the entire processing and transfer process incurs no financial cost to the St Kitts and Nevis government.
Per the arrangements laid out in the MOU, the three arrivals will go through the federation’s standard immigration and national security vetting procedures, after which they will receive the immigration status and legal residency that CARICOM citizens are routinely entitled to under St Kitts and Nevis law.
The government moved quickly to reassure the local public that all relevant national security, immigration, and law enforcement agencies have been fully involved at every stage of the transfer. Ahead of the individuals’ arrival, U.S. authorities shared all available biographical, medical, and criminal background information on the three transferees with local officials.
Crucially, the statement emphasized that none of the three individuals were transferred due to criminal convictions. Their removal from the United States stems exclusively from immigration violations committed on U.S. soil. Under the terms of the arrangement, the three Caribbean nationals are free to return to their respective countries of citizenship at any time, should they choose to do so, provided they meet the immigration and legal requirements of Jamaica and Belize.
St Kitts and Nevis reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to the responsible management of migration issues, full compliance with its international agreements, and the ongoing protection of public safety and national sovereignty. The government urged local residents to only rely on official government channels for accurate updates and information related to this transfer, to avoid the spread of misinformation.
St Kitts and Nevis is not the only CARICOM member state to enter into this type of migration transfer agreement with the United States. Other regional nations including Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda have signed similar arrangements. Speaking to journalists on the “Roundtable” program in January 2026, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew explained that the U.S. reached out to St Kitts and Nevis alongside other CARICOM members, and the federation opted to take a proactive approach in negotiations to reach a mutually acceptable arrangement that aligns with regional and national interests.