Antigua and Barbuda nears migrant transfer deal with U.S

Antigua and Barbuda is nearing an agreement with the United States regarding the transfer of third-country nationals (TCNs). Prime Minister Gaston Browne stated that while negotiations are close to completion, the government is prioritizing the establishment of necessary funding and support arrangements before any transfers occur.

The proposed operating procedures include several safeguards for Antigua and Barbuda. The government would have the right to provide written approval or rejection for every individual transfer, and there would be a limit of seven people per quarter. The agreement would also exclude Antiguan and Barbudan nationals, minors, and individuals with criminal histories.

Under the draft terms, the United States would be expected to fund a mutually acceptable international organization to coordinate services for the transferred individuals, such as voluntary repatriation or local integration. Browne emphasized that the government seeks to avoid the mistakes of other nations that accepted individuals without securing adequate financial and operational support.