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CARICOM nations join U.S. third-country deportation program
Since February 2025, more than 22,000 individuals have been deported from the United States to at least 26 different countries under an expanding third-country deportation program. According to data from the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, these deportations involve sending individuals to nations with which they have no meaningful ties.
A Senate Foreign Relations Committee minority report has confirmed that at least $32.3 million has been paid to five foreign governments to facilitate these arrangements, though many specific agreements remain undisclosed. Notably, Congress has not provided specific appropriations for these third-country deportation payments.
In the Caribbean, at least eight CARICOM nations have entered into agreements to accept deportees. These arrangements vary by country:
• Guyana has finalized a one-year framework, with its first cohort arriving on September 4th. • Dominica is capped at 28 transfers per year, with the first transfer occurring in July 2026. • Belize has signed a formal Safe Third Country Agreement capped at 10 individuals per year, restricted to CARICOM and Central American nationals, excluding Guatemalans. • Other participating nations include Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and Antigua and Barbuda.
Entities
CARICOM · Guyana · Senate Foreign Relations Committee · U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Congress has not specifically appropriated funds for third-country deportation payments to foreign governments. antiguatribune.com · trinidadtribune.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] At least eight CARICOM nations have entered agreements to accept individuals with no ties to those countries. antiguatribune.com · trinidadtribune.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] At least $32.3 million in payments to five foreign governments has been confirmed. antiguatribune.com · trinidadtribune.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Guyana finalized a one-year framework and received its first cohort on September 4th. antiguatribune.com · trinidadtribune.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Over 22,000 people have been deported to at least 26 countries since February 2025 via a third-country deportation program. antiguatribune.com · trinidadtribune.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Belize signed a formal Safe Third Country Agreement capped at 10 people per year, limited to CARICOM and Central American nationals, excluding Guatemalans. antiguatribune.com · trinidadtribune.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Dominica is capped at 7 transfers per quarter, with the first transfer occurring on July 22, 2026. antiguatribune.com · trinidadtribune.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com