{"id":263272,"date":"2026-01-05T12:16:39","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T16:16:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=263272"},"modified":"2026-01-05T12:29:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T16:29:36","slug":"antigua-and-barbuda-government-denies-secret-deal-with-us-on-refugees-says-no-binding-agreement-exists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/antigua-and-barbuda-government-denies-secret-deal-with-us-on-refugees-says-no-binding-agreement-exists\/","title":{"rendered":"Antigua and Barbuda Government Denies Secret Deal with US on Refugees, Says No Binding Agreement Exists"},"content":{"rendered":"
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STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA<\/strong> On Cooperation with the United States Regarding Third-Country Nationals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda<\/a> considers it appropriate to clarify the facts regarding its engagement with the United States <\/a>on the possible acceptance of a very limited number of third-country nationals, including refugees<\/a>.<\/p>

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In the interest of accuracy, transparency, and public confidence, the Government sets out below the relevant facts and context.<\/p>

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No secret or binding agreement<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antigua and Barbuda has not entered into any binding agreement with the United States to accept deportees or refugees.<\/p>

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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States is today the country that hosts the largest number of refugees from across the world\u2014individuals who cannot be returned to their countries of origin because doing so would expose them to serious harm, persecution, or grave reprisals. 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 are able to do so safely and lawfully. Many countries have already agreed to this non-binding understanding.<\/p>

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This Understanding:<\/p>

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