Antigua wants about US$75,000 Per Migrant in US Talks, Citing Higher Cost of Living

Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua and Barbuda will seek up to US$75,000 in financial support for each third-country national it may agree to receive under a proposed arrangement with the United States, arguing that the country’s high cost of living requires greater assistance than other participating nations have reportedly received.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday before tabling a resolution outlining the principles that will guide negotiations with the United States, Browne said the government has already informed U.S. officials that Antigua and Barbuda’s circumstances differ from those of other countries because of significantly higher housing and living costs.

“My understanding is that they have given between US$25,000 to US$50,000 to some countries for each individual,” Browne told lawmakers. “I said to them Antigua and Barbuda is an expensive country, so we may want to consider about US$75,000 each.”

The prime minister said the proposed figure reflects the actual costs of accommodating individuals in Antigua and Barbuda, where rental housing is substantially more expensive than in many countries.

He noted that while dilapidated homes may rent for about US$500 per month, housing that meets acceptable standards comparable to what individuals may have experienced in the United States could cost at least US$2,000 monthly. He said those realities must be taken into account as negotiations continue.

Browne said the government is not asking Parliament to negotiate the financial details but is instead seeking approval for a framework that would allow Cabinet to continue discussions with the United States while protecting Antigua and Barbuda’s interests.

“The Cabinet must have the leverage to negotiate a sensible agreement,” he said, adding that the executive would quantify what it considers to be reasonable financial support before presenting its position to U.S. officials.

He stressed that no agreement would be finalized unless funding arrangements are settled in advance and in writing, ensuring that the transfer of any third-country nationals would not place an additional financial burden on Antigua and Barbuda.

Browne said the government remains willing to cooperate with the United States but will continue to insist that any arrangement reflects the country’s economic realities and protects its national interests.

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