Dominica Agrees to Receive Third-Country Refugees Under U.S. Arrangement

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has confirmed that his country has reached an agreement with the United States to accept a limited number of third-country refugees who cannot be repatriated to their countries of origin.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Skerrit said the arrangement was negotiated with careful attention to national security concerns, including assurances that individuals with violent backgrounds or those posing security risks would not be sent to Dominica.

“Our discussions with the State Department were very deliberate,” Skerrit said. “The need to protect Dominica from receiving violent individuals or persons who could compromise national security was clearly acknowledged and accepted.”

The Prime Minister explained that the agreement reflects the importance of maintaining strong bilateral relations with Washington while safeguarding the interests of Dominican citizens.

“This engagement is rooted in our responsibility to protect our people — their access to lawful travel, education, employment and family connections — while strengthening cooperation between our governments,” he said.

Skerrit added that the initiative is expected to deepen long-standing ties between the two countries and reaffirm Dominica’s role as a reliable regional partner of the United States.

When asked to identify the countries from which the refugees would originate, the Prime Minister declined to provide specifics, citing confidentiality provisions within the memorandum of understanding (MOU).

“There are details that cannot be shared at this stage,” he said, noting that Dominica’s concerns were taken seriously and are reflected in the final agreement. “As time goes by, we will better understand how this arrangement will operate.”