ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda government, Monday, said it remains a sovereign state, “fully in control of its decisions and its borders” as it sought to provide clarification over the decision of St. John’s to accept a “minimal number of third-country nationals, including refugees” from the United States.
In a statement, the Gaston Browne government said that “in the interest of accuracy, transparency, and public confidence,” it considers it appropriate to clarify the facts regarding its engagement with the United States, insisting that there is “no secret or binding agreement.
Antigua and Barbuda has not entered into any binding agreement with the United States to accept deportees or refugees. What exists is a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding proposed by the United States, as part of its global efforts to share responsibility for refugees already present in its territory.
“Antigua and Barbuda was approached by the United States, along with more than one hundred governments worldwide, including several within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), to consider this non-binding arrangement,” the Government said in its statement.
It said that the United States is today the country that hosts the most significant number of refugees from across the world, including “individuals who cannot be returned to their countries of origin because doing so would expose them to serious harm, persecution, or grave reprisals.
St John’s said that in response to this humanitarian reality, the United States has sought the cooperation of other governments to share the burden, “by accepting such non-criminal refugees as they can do so safely and lawfully.
“Many countries have already agreed to this non-binding understanding,” the statement said, adding that the MOU creates no legal obligation on Antigua and Barbuda, nor does it commit the Government to quotas or automatic acceptance of any persons.
The statement said that the MOU “may be terminated at any time, at Antigua and Barbuda’s sole discretion” and that claims that the country has been bound by “a secret or coercive agreement are incorrect and misleading.
It said that under this non-binding Understanding, Antigua and Barbuda retains the absolute right to reject any individual proposed by the United States and that “all cases would be considered strictly on a case-by-case basis” with “no person with a criminal record would be accepted.
“Any consideration would be strictly limited, including an upper ceiling of no more than ten (10) persons per year, subject entirely to the Government’s discretion. There is no surrender of sovereignty, no transfer of authority, and no loss of control over borders or national security.”
The statement said that the agreement does not involve “importing deportees,” noting that Antigua and Barbuda “is not agreeing to accept deportees, nor to serve as a repository for individuals rejected by other countries.
“The Understanding relates only to lawfully screened third-country nationals, including refugees already present in the United States, and only where Antigua and Barbuda is delighted based on intelligence vetting and national security assessments that acceptance would pose no risk to the country or its people.”
The statement said that Prime Minister Gaston Browne and the Attorney General, Sir Steadroy Benjamin, “authorised consideration of this understanding as an act of good faith, reflecting Antigua and Barbuda’s willingness to cooperate with international partners where it is safe, lawful, and consistent with national interests.
“This was not a concession, nor an attempt to trade people or curry favour. It was a measured diplomatic gesture, taken alongside many other responsible states, while preserving Antigua and Barbuda’s full discretion and control,” the statement said.
It said that, in the broader context, Antigua and Barbuda is currently engaged in discussions with the United States on matters affecting the restoration of normal visa issuance and renewals for Antiguan and Barbudan nationals, as well as technical issues related to biometric standards and international identity assurance.
“Good-faith cooperation across a range of issues is a normal feature of international relations. It does not mean compromising national security, sovereignty, or values,” the statement added.
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