Antigua and Barbuda’s Parliament is expected to meet in the coming weeks to debate a White Paper outlining the government’s position on accepting third-country nationals deported from the United States.

The special sitting is expected to take place during the week of July 13.

The government released the document on July 2, setting out the legal, financial and humanitarian issues surrounding the proposal.

While the government said it has approached discussions with the United States “in a spirit of friendship and cooperation”, it stressed that Antigua and Barbuda cannot take on open-ended obligations involving people who are not its citizens.

The White Paper argues that, as a small island state with limited resources, the country must carefully balance its relationship with the United States against its responsibility to protect its own national interests.

The government noted that it has consistently cooperated with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in accepting Antiguan and Barbudan nationals deported from the United States. 

Between March 2025 and July 2026, five nationals were deported from the US, all of whom were accepted back into the country.

However, the proposal to receive nationals of other countries is a different matter.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has previously said Antigua and Barbuda would only consider accepting up to 10 third-country nationals annually and only if their offences were related solely to immigration matters.

That position is reflected in the White Paper, which proposes a pilot programme capped at 10 people for 2026, followed by a review in 2027.

The government said the arrangement would only move forward if the United States, or another acceptable agency, provides written guarantees covering all costs associated with the programme, including reception, housing, healthcare, welfare, security, administration and any future repatriation or onward travel if required.

It is also proposing that every case be considered individually, with Antigua and Barbuda retaining the right to approve or reject any transfer.

Under the counter-proposal, only people with final deportation orders would be eligible for consideration. Those facing expedited removal, people with pending asylum claims, unaccompanied minors and anyone with criminal records beyond immigration offences would be excluded.

The White Paper also explains why the government chose to engage in discussions instead of immediately rejecting the request.

It notes that several Caribbean countries, including St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Guyana, Jamaica and Belize, have already entered into, or publicly acknowledged, similar arrangements with the United States. 

Against that backdrop, the government said it considered it important to examine the request seriously while ensuring Antigua and Barbuda’s sovereignty and national interests remain protected.

A significant portion of the document focuses on the legal complications that could arise if third-country nationals are accepted.

The government warns that someone arriving without valid travel documents could quickly become the responsibility of the state if they seek asylum, are effectively stateless or cannot legally be returned to either their country of origin or the United States.

It notes that Antigua and Barbuda does not have standalone refugee legislation and currently handles asylum matters administratively under its Immigration Act in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The White Paper also raises concerns about countries refusing to issue travel documents for deportees, leaving individuals stranded in Antigua and Barbuda indefinitely while the government remains responsible for their care and legal obligations under international treaties.

The government said those legal and financial risks are among the reasons it insists on strict conditions before accepting any transfers.

Beyond those safeguards, the White Paper argues that Antigua and Barbuda should receive a tangible benefit if it is to assist the United States with its migration policy.

It says financial guarantees and operational support alone do not amount to reciprocity and suggests any agreement should include the removal of blanket US visa restrictions on Antiguan and Barbudian nationals, while recognising that the United States should still be free to deny visas on an individual basis where appropriate.

According to the document, any reciprocal benefit must be clearly defined, put in writing and capable of objective value.

“Goodwill alone is not sufficient,” the White Paper states, adding that vague expectations of favourable treatment cannot form the basis of an agreement of this nature.