Six Cuban and Afghan nationals deported from the United States have arrived in Guyana under a temporary migration agreement between the two countries.
That is according to an Al Jazeera report published today, which said the group arrived on Friday as part of the Trump administration’s third-country deportation programme.
The report quoted Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud as saying the six individuals were vetted by local authorities and found to have no criminal backgrounds. He said they were removed from the United States primarily over immigration issues.
The arrangement was reportedly reached after months of negotiations between Georgetown and Washington and will remain in effect for one year.
Persaud said the agreement does not provide for the permanent resettlement of the deportees in Guyana. The United States has also reportedly made no further requests for Guyana to accept additional deportees.
The six individuals were relocated under the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme and will remain in Guyana while their immigration status is determined.
Depending on the outcome, they could return to their countries of origin or be relocated to another country.
The International Organization for Migration, a United Nations agency, will be responsible for managing the programme.
According to the report, the Guyana Government will not be responsible for the cost of housing or otherwise supporting the group.
Guyana is the latest Caribbean Community member state to accept people deported by the United States who are not citizens of the receiving country.
Belize and St Kitts and Nevis have reportedly received small groups under similar arrangements, while St Lucia was also expected to begin accepting deportees.
The arrivals come as the Trump administration expands its use of third-country deportation agreements as part of a wider crackdown on illegal immigration.
The Guyana Government has not yet issued a detailed public statement identifying the number of Cuban and Afghan nationals in the group or explaining where they will be accommodated.
