Dominica to finalize deal with US to accept third-country migrants

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says his government is hoping to finalize an agreement with the United States this week that would allow a limited number of third-country migrants to be sent to Dominica in cases where Washington is unable to return them to their country of origin.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Skerrit said the draft proposal from the United States предусматриes seven migrants every four months — a maximum of 28 individuals per year.

“Seven people per quarter. We have four quarters in a year. So in a year there will be 28. No more than 28 persons,” Skerrit said, pushing back against speculation that the arrangement would involve hundreds or thousands of people.

Under the proposed framework, Dominica would engage the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to manage the operational aspects of the programme on behalf of the government.

Skerrit said logistical details are still being worked out, including housing arrangements and financial considerations to ensure Dominica does not incur undue costs.

“We have to determine whether they’re going to be renting individual locations or one building to house them collectively,” he said, noting that some individuals may not remain in Dominica permanently and could choose to return to their home countries.

The prime minister indicated he was not aware of a specific timeline for the arrival of the migrants, citing the need to resolve outstanding logistical issues.

Earlier this year, Skerrit underscored the importance of maintaining strong bilateral ties with the United States, describing the discussions as part of broader cooperation aimed at safeguarding Dominicans’ access to lawful travel, education, employment and family connections.

He argued Monday that beyond diplomacy, the initiative could also serve Dominica’s socio-economic interests.

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“The reality is we are a small population,” Skerrit said, pointing to shortages in skilled labour across sectors. He noted that as the country develops, some jobs previously filled by Dominicans are becoming harder to staff, with professionals often stretched across multiple clients due to limited availability.

Skerrit maintained that attracting individuals with needed skills could add value to the country, urging citizens to weigh potential benefits rather than respond with what he described as reflexive resistance.

“In everything we have to look at the potential positive side of it and not appear to be xenophobic as a society,” he said.

The proposed agreement, if signed, would formalize a new dimension of cooperation between Roseau and Washington, while capping the number of migrants at fewer than 30 per year.