Prime Minister Drew cites security concerns amid Haiti’s ongoing gang violence and instability
Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis – January 15, 2026 The government of St. Kitts and Nevis has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States to accept a small number of third-country nationals currently in U.S. custody who cannot be repatriated to their countries of origin.
Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, who also serves as the current chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), announced the agreement during a press roundtable, stressing that it is narrowly tailored and prioritizes national security.
“This applies only to citizens or nationals of the Caribbean Community,” Drew stated clearly. “This does not involve anybody outside of CARICOM. And I will further say that because of security matters, it does not include Haiti at this time.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that any individuals transferred under the MOU must have no violent or sexual criminal backgrounds, and St. Kitts and Nevis retains full discretion to accept or reject any proposed cases.
Broader U.S. Deportation Strategy
The arrangement is part of the current U.S. administration’s expanded efforts to increase deportation options for migrants and asylum seekers who cannot be returned home due to legal, humanitarian, or logistical barriers in their countries of origin.
Several other CARICOM member states, including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, have confirmed similar agreements with the United States, though details vary and not all have publicly specified exclusions. Guyana is reportedly considering a comparable arrangement.
Haiti’s Exclusion Sparks Regional Discussion
The explicit exclusion of Haitian nationals has reignited conversations across the Caribbean about Haiti’s place within CARICOM. While Haiti remains a full member of the regional bloc, longstanding concerns among some member states — including security risks, economic capacity, and migration pressures — have limited deeper integration, particularly in areas like free movement and labor mobility.
Many CARICOM countries already impose visa requirements or restrictions on Haitian citizens, and several have expressed reluctance to accept larger numbers amid Haiti’s prolonged crisis: widespread gang violence, political instability, displacement of over 1.3 million people, and severe humanitarian challenges.
Experts and former diplomats note that these decisions reflect practical realities rather than a rejection of Haiti’s membership, but they highlight ongoing tensions around equitable burden-sharing and solidarity within the region.
What This Means Moving Forward
The MOU with St. Kitts and Nevis remains limited in scope and does not signal a broader CARICOM-wide policy shift. The government of St. Kitts and Nevis has stressed that national security and public safety will remain the overriding criteria for any future cases.
L’Union Suite will continue to monitor developments in U.S.-CARICOM migration agreements and their implications for Haitian nationals and the wider diaspora.
