Guyana Accepts First U.S. Deportees Under New Migration Agreement

2026-09-06 global

Georgetown, Sunday, 6 September 2026.
Guyana has received six Cuban and Afghan nationals deported from the U.S. under a new bilateral third-country agreement, expanding regional diplomatic and migration policy cooperation.

Arrival Details and Vetting Protocols

On Friday, 4 September 2026, a group of six nationals from Cuba and Afghanistan arrived in Guyana following deportation from the United States [1][3]. The Guyanese government confirmed on Saturday, 5 September 2026, that the individuals were vetted by local authorities and found to have no criminal backgrounds [3][5]. Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud stated that the group was removed from the U.S. primarily due to immigration issues rather than criminal activity [3][6]. This arrival marks the initial execution of a temporary bilateral arrangement negotiated over several months between Georgetown and Washington [1][5]. The agreement specifies that the U.S. has not made further requests for non-citizen deportations to Guyana at this time [3][5].

Agreement Terms and Operational Costs

The bilateral deal, titled “Retorno Voluntario Asistido” (Assisted Voluntary Return), is valid for a period of one year and does not constitute a permanent resettlement program [1][4]. Under the terms established by President Irfaan Ali’s administration, migrants must consent to the transfer and will await the outcome of their immigration status determination while in Guyana [2][3]. The United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) is responsible for managing the operation, ensuring the Guyanese state assumes no costs for housing or assistance [1][4]. Depending on individual case resolutions, migrants may return to their countries of origin or relocate to a third destination of their choice [2][5].

Regional Dynamics and Caricom Participation

Guyana joins over 30 nations that have signed agreements with the Trump administration to accept deportees who are not their own nationals [4][5]. Within the Caribbean Community (Caricom), members including Saint Kitts and Nevis, Belize, and Saint Lucia have also participated in accepting reduced groups of expelled individuals [3][4]. Saint Lucia was scheduled to receive its first contingent of deportees during the week of 31 August 2026 to 6 September 2026, though the status of this arrival remains unconfirmed [alert! ‘status unconfirmed’] [4][5]. This expansion highlights shifting diplomatic dynamics where energy-rich Guyana is playing an increasingly prominent role in U.S. foreign and migration policy [1][2].

Legal Criticisms and Policy Context

Human rights activists have condemned third-country deportations as inhumane, alleging deportees are returned to countries from which they fled persecution [4][5]. Data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University indicates that 70.6 percent of foreign nationals currently in U.S. immigration detention have no criminal conviction, contradicting some administration justifications [5]. Since returning to office in 2025, President Donald Trump has pursued an aggressive anti-migration campaign involving raids and third-country deportations [2][5]. The administration maintains the deportations are legal and effective, despite ongoing criticism from legal and human rights organizations [4][5].

Sources

Immigration Policy US Foreign Relations