The United States reached an agreement with Dominica on Monday to begin sending foreigners seeking U.S. asylum to the small Caribbean country after pressure from the Trump administration, including visa restrictions.
Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit described the agreement as “one of the major areas of cooperation” as the country has recently been affected by some visa restrictions and U.S. entry restrictions.
Skerrit did not provide any other details, including how soon the U.S. would begin sending asylum seekers to Dominica. However, the Dominican Prime Minister noted that restrictions on people with violent backgrounds were imposed during discussions with the U.S. State Department.
FILE – Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit attends the 2nd Annual Caribbean Community-India Summit in Georgetown, Guyana, Wednesday, November 20, 2024 – Matthias Delacroix/Associated Press Copyright 2024. all rights reserved
“We have carefully considered the need to avoid hosting violent individuals or individuals who endanger Dominican security,” Skerrit said.
Thomson Fontaine, leader of the country’s main opposition party, said the news had many locals worried about whether the small Caribbean nation of about 72,000 people had enough resources to absorb asylum seekers.
“The prime minister has not yet told the Dominican public exactly what he has agreed to, including how many people will go to Dominica, where they will be housed and how they will be cared for,” Fontaine told The Associated Press.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has signed similar deals with countries including Belize and Paraguay, continuing to pressure Latin American and African countries to take in asylum seekers.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves walks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit at the State Department on May 6, 2025 -Kevin Wolf/Associated Press Copyright 2025. all rights reserved
Antigua and Barbuda also announced on Monday it had signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding proposed by the United States “as part of its global efforts to share responsibilities for refugees already on its territory.”
Antigua and Barbuda will also not accept anyone with a criminal record, local government officials said.
Last month, the Trump administration announced it was expanding travel restrictions to an additional 20 countries, including Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, the only Caribbean country on the list. The restrictions take effect on New Year’s Day.
