Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit confirmed on Wednesday, September 9, that all five Colombian nationals transferred to the island under an arrangement with the United States have returned to Colombia.
The five were the first group accepted by Dominica under the US third-country deportation arrangement.
Skerrit made the confirmation during a press conference on September 9, saying that none of the five remained in Dominica.
The development followed an earlier US proposal involving people Washington wanted Dominica to accept.
According to Skerrit, the Dominican government rejected the first list provided by the United States.
A second list was subsequently supplied with additional information, after which Dominica selected five Colombian nationals.
The five were subsequently transferred to Dominica before eventually returning to Colombia.
Skerrit said: “They came into Dominica, and they’ve all left and returned to Colombia.”
The development is significant because Dominica is among several Caribbean countries that have entered or considered arrangements with Washington involving the transfer of people deported from the United States.
Such agreements have generated regional debate over immigration policy, screening procedures, the rights of deportees and the responsibilities of small Caribbean states accepting people removed from the United States.
Dominica’s handling of the first group also illustrates the government’s insistence on receiving information before agreeing to accept deportees.
The rejection of the initial list suggests that Roseau did not automatically accept the individuals proposed by Washington.
Instead, the government requested further information before selecting the five Colombians.
With all five now back in Colombia, questions remain about whether Dominica will accept additional deportees under the arrangement and what conditions would govern any future transfers.
The issue is likely to remain relevant across CARICOM as Caribbean governments weigh the diplomatic and humanitarian implications of third-country deportation agreements with the United States.
