Prime Minister Gaston Browne Writes to President Trump Seeking Review of U.S. Visa Restrictions and Visa Bond Measures

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has initiated two further diplomatic representations to the Government of the United States following the publication by the United States Department of State of the Final Rule establishing a permanent Visa Bond Program.

Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne has written to President Donald J. Trump requesting that he direct a review of the restrictions currently affecting nationals of Antigua and Barbuda under Presidential Proclamation 10998, the related visa measures, and the newly established Visa Bond Program.

At the same time, the Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda in Washington, D.C., has submitted a formal Diplomatic Note to the United States Department of State, for the attention of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, requesting an early review of Antigua and Barbuda’s continued inclusion in these measures.

The Government’s representations are based upon the Department of State’s own explanation of the objectives of the Visa Bond Program, published in the Final Rule in theFederal Register. In that document, the Department states that the Program is intended as “a tool of diplomacy” to encourage foreign governments to strengthen information sharing, identity verification, screening and vetting, document security, compliance with immigration requirements and related security measures.

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has pointed out that it has responded positively and constructively to each of these objectives.

Among the measures highlighted in the Prime Minister’s letter and the Diplomatic Note are:

• the strengthening by legislation of the residency requirements under Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Programme;
• the establishment of biometric cooperation with the United States Department of Homeland Security to enhance identity verification and screening;
• Antigua and Barbuda’s continuing full cooperation with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in accepting promptly the return of its nationals who are lawfully removed from the United States;
• Antigua and Barbuda’s willingness to cooperate with the United States regarding Third-Country Nationals within the limits of its national capacity.

The Government has also reminded the United States that Antigua and Barbuda has historically maintained a visa overstay rate of little more than one per cent, that no citizen of Antigua and Barbuda has sought refugee status in the United States, and that the country remains a stable parliamentary democracy recognised by the World Bank as an upper-middle-income economy.

Prime Minister Browne’s letter also recalls Antigua and Barbuda’s longstanding friendship with the United States and its consistent cooperation in matters of regional security, including the fight against illicit narcotics trafficking and transnational organised crime, intelligence sharing, immigration cooperation and other matters affecting the security interests of both countries.

The Prime Minister notes that Antigua and Barbuda has consistently responded constructively to concerns raised by successive United States Administrations and respectfully submits that the objectives identified by the Department of State have now been substantially achieved in relation to Antigua and Barbuda.

Accordingly, the Government has requested that the United States review Antigua and Barbuda’s continued inclusion in the visa restrictions and Visa Bond Program in light of the facts as they now stand.

“The Government’s objective is not confrontation,” the Prime Minister said. “It is to ensure that decisions affecting the people of Antigua and Barbuda are based upon accurate information and upon the substantial steps our country has taken in close cooperation with the United States to address every legitimate concern that has been raised. We believe the time is now right for a review.”

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda remains committed to strengthening its longstanding partnership with the United States and looks forward to continued engagement with the Administration on matters of mutual interest and shared security.

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