Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica and (potentially) Guyana to take in US refugees. Interesting new developments in wake of the visa freezes.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad — The United States on Monday reached a deal with Dominica to start sending foreigners seeking U.S. asylum to the small Caribbean nation.

Dominica has a population of roughly 72,000, and Monday’s announcement has left many locals concerned about whether the island has enough resources to absorb asylum-seekers into its population, according to Thomson Fontaine, leader of the country’s main opposition party.

(ABC News)

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Antigua and Barbuda also announced Monday that it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding proposed by the U.S. “as part of its global efforts to share responsibility for refugees already present in its territory.” Local government officials said Antigua and Barbuda would not be accepting anyone with a criminal record.

(ABC News)

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GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — A senior Guyanese official has confirmed that the Caribbean Community (Caricom) country is holding talks with the United States (US) on accepting third-country nationals from the North American country.

“Guyana and the USA have been in productive discussions on a framework of understanding which is consistent with our national priorities and needs and supportive of the USA objectives,” Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud told the Demerara Waves Online News.

(Jamaica Observer)