Prime Minister Gaston Browne has written directly to United States President Donald Trump, asking his administration to review visa restrictions and new visa bond measures affecting nationals of Antigua and Barbuda.

The latest diplomatic push follows the publication by the U.S. Department of State of a Final Rule establishing a permanent Visa Bond Program.

Alongside Browne’s letter to President Trump, the Antigua and Barbuda Embassy in Washington, D.C., has submitted a formal Diplomatic Note to the U.S. Department of State for the attention of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also seeking an early review of the country’s inclusion in the measures.

The Browne administration is arguing that Antigua and Barbuda has already taken substantial steps to address the concerns identified by Washington.

According to the government, the U.S. State Department has described the Visa Bond Program as a diplomatic tool intended to encourage countries to strengthen information sharing, identity verification, screening and vetting, document security and compliance with immigration requirements.

Antigua and Barbuda maintains that it has responded constructively to those objectives.
Among the measures highlighted in the representations to Washington are legislative changes strengthening residency requirements under Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Programme and the establishment of biometric cooperation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to improve identity verification and screening.

The government also pointed to what it described as continued full cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in accepting the prompt return of Antiguan and Barbudan nationals who are lawfully removed from the United States.

Additionally, Antigua and Barbuda has signalled its willingness to cooperate with Washington on the issue of Third-Country Nationals, within the limits of the country’s capacity.

The government is also relying on the country’s immigration record as part of its case for reconsideration.

It said Antigua and Barbuda has historically maintained a U.S. visa overstay rate of just over one per cent and noted that no Antiguan and Barbudan citizen has sought refugee status in the United States.

Browne further highlighted the longstanding relationship between St. John’s and Washington, particularly cooperation in regional security, combating illicit narcotics trafficking and transnational organised crime, intelligence sharing and immigration matters.

The Prime Minister argued that Antigua and Barbuda has consistently responded to concerns raised by successive U.S. administrations and believes the objectives identified by Washington have now been substantially achieved.

As a result, the government is asking the Trump administration to reassess Antigua and Barbuda’s continued inclusion in the visa restrictions and Visa Bond Program based on the steps the country has taken.

“The Government’s objective is not confrontation,” Browne 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 said it remains committed to strengthening Antigua and Barbuda’s longstanding partnership with the United States and continuing engagement with the Trump administration on matters of mutual interest and security.