Antigua and Barbuda’s top leader has drawn a firm line in the sand against transnational criminal activity, explicitly declaring that the twin-island nation will never serve as a refuge for offenders fleeing justice in other countries. Prime Minister Gaston Browne delivered the clear stance during an appearance on his weekly public program, the Browne and Browne Show, held Saturday, where he outlined recent encounters with criminal migrants and the government’s zero-tolerance approach to the issue.
According to Browne, national security agencies have already identified multiple individuals who entered Antigua and Barbuda after allegedly committing serious crimes in neighboring and distant territories. “They seem to be coming to Antigua as a safe haven,” the prime minister told the audience. “Not just Jamaicans alone, but even other countries across the region and beyond.”
Browne went on to cite specific recent enforcement actions that demonstrate the government’s commitment to upholding this policy. He confirmed that two individuals—a national of Trinidad and Tobago and a citizen of St. Vincent and the Grenadines—have already been deported back to their home countries in recent weeks. Additionally, a Jamaican man who is accused of fleeing Jamaican authorities to avoid prosecution is currently in custody at a correctional facility in Antigua and Barbuda, awaiting processing for deportation.
Reiterating his message for any potential criminals considering the nation as a safe escape route, Browne emphasized that geographic origin would not lead to exceptions. “Antigua and Barbuda will never be a safe haven for criminals, no matter where you emanate from,” he warned. “You can come from the Caribbean, Europe, North America, South America, Asia — wherever you come from, you will be deported to whence you came.”
In a crucial clarification to avoid unnecessary concern among legitimate residents, the prime minister stressed that the hardline policy applies exclusively to individuals linked to criminal activity. Law-abiding immigrants who have made Antigua and Barbuda their home and abide by the nation’s laws face no threat of deportation under this framework, he confirmed.