Guyana Takes In First Group of US Deportees Under Third-Country Pact

Guyana has received its first group of deportees from the United States under a third-country transfer arrangement, officials confirmed on Saturday. The six individuals, nationals of Cuba and Afghanistan, landed in the country on Friday after undergoing vetting by Guyanese authorities, who found no criminal backgrounds among them.

Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud said the deportations stemmed primarily from immigration violations rather than criminal activity. The group's arrival follows months of negotiations between Georgetown and Washington, resulting in a one-year hosting agreement that does not amount to permanent resettlement.

Under the Assisted Voluntary Return Program, the deportees will remain in Guyana while their immigration status is determined. Depending on the outcome, they could eventually return to their home countries or be relocated to another destination. The UN's International Organization for Migration is overseeing the program's implementation, with the Guyanese government bearing no housing or support costs.

Persaud noted that the US has not made any further requests beyond this initial group. Guyana, a founding member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), joins several other regional states—including St. Kitts and Nevis, Belize, and St. Lucia—in accepting small numbers of US deportees. St. Lucia was expected to receive its first group this week.