By Mark DaCosta-The United States is signalling a potential clampdown on travel access for citizens of several Caribbean nations, including Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia, over concerns tied to their Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CIPs). The Trump administration, through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has recently raised red flags about the security and transparency of these schemes, which allow foreign nationals to acquire citizenship in exchange for financial investment. The looming threat of visa restrictions by the U.S. has prompted quiet diplomatic manoeuvring across the region, as governments brace for what could be a significant blow to their economies and international mobility.
In the wake of recent high-level meetings between Caribbean leaders and Secretary Rubio in Washington and across the region, tensions have escalated over the future of the so-called “golden passport” programmes. These initiatives, which offer citizenship to wealthy foreign investors in return for contributions to national development funds or real estate purchases, have long been a source of revenue for small island economies. However, Washington has expressed growing unease, arguing that these nations lack the capacity to conduct rigorous background checks on applicants, potentially opening the door to bad actors.
As previously reported by this publication, a leaked diplomatic cable, reportedly circulated within the U.S. State Department and cited by major international outlets, outlines plans to impose travel restrictions on nationals from countries offering these investment-based citizenships. The memo, signed by Rubio, identifies 36 countries globally — many of them in Africa and the Caribbean — as failing to meet U.S. benchmarks for passport security and identity verification.
“The department has identified 36 countries of concern that might be recommended for full or partial suspension of entry if they do not meet established benchmarks and requirements within 60 days,” the memo warns. It also cites “questionable security” of passports and inadequate cooperation in accepting deportees as grounds for punitive action.
Among the Caribbean nations potentially affected are Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and Antigua and Barbuda — all of which operate active CIPs. Grenada, curiously, appears to have avoided inclusion on the list, despite also offering a similar programme. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, meanwhile, has consistently rejected the CIP model, citing concerns over sovereignty and long-term economic sustainability.
The U.S. has also taken issue with the financial arrangements surrounding Cuban medical professionals working in the region. Washington contends that some Caribbean governments have been complicit in allowing the Cuban state to siphon off the majority of salaries paid to these workers, in violation of U.S. sanctions. In response, countries such as Guyana, Antigua, and The Bahamas have pledged to revise their payment systems to ensure compliance with American expectations.
While the immediate threat of sanctions over the Cuban medical brigade issue appears to have subsided, the broader concern over CIPs remains unresolved. Caribbean leaders are reportedly considering convening a follow-up summit to address the escalating tensions and to seek clarity on Washington’s intentions. Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has acknowledged ongoing discussions with Western counterparts but noted that no formal notice of impending restrictions has been issued.
The U.S. has dangled a diplomatic lifeline, offering countries a two-month window to implement reforms that would satisfy its security concerns. These include enhanced due diligence procedures and improved cooperation on immigration enforcement. The State Department has also alleged that nationals from some of the targeted countries have higher-than-average rates of visa overstays in the U.S. — a claim regional governments are expected to challenge.
In a related development, Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently issued a public advisory urging undocumented nationals in the United States to return home voluntarily, following a diplomatic note from Washington. The advisory came just days after seven Guyanese were deported on a chartered flight, underscoring the Trump administration’s renewed focus on immigration enforcement.
