By St. Pauls News Team
September 6 2026 | Regional
St. Lucia is preparing to receive its first group of migrants from the United States under a bilateral agreement allowing the island to serve as a third-country destination for certain individuals facing removal from the US.
Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs Minister Alva Baptiste announced Monday that six people, five men and one woman, are expected to arrive in St. Lucia later this week.
Under the agreement, St. Lucia could receive up to 10 individuals every quarter over the next two years.
Baptiste said the arrangement was developed following a request from the US government and stressed that the individuals being transferred are not criminals.
“These individuals are not criminals. Their circumstances are administrative,” Baptiste told reporters during the weekly Cabinet news conference. He said they had been unable to regularise their immigration status in the United States and were subsequently identified for removal.
The St. Lucian government is working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to provide the migrants with two options upon arrival.
Those who wish to return to their countries of origin will be assisted with voluntary repatriation, while those who choose to remain in St. Lucia will be expected to comply with local laws and will receive support aimed at helping them integrate into society.
Baptiste said the government’s participation in the programme reflects St. Lucia’s commitment to compassion, human dignity and respect for fundamental rights.https://wtpmedianetwork.com/
He also rejected any suggestion that the migrants would be treated as prisoners.
“When the migrants from the United States arrive here, we cannot treat them as if they are prisoners,” Baptiste said. “We are going to receive them and treat them with respect.”
The minister said St. Lucia expects its own citizens living overseas to receive the same treatment and noted that migration has increasingly become a major issue in political debates around the world.
As countries introduce stricter migration controls, Baptiste said St. Lucia has a responsibility under international law to ensure that people are treated with dignity and respect.
The government has pledged to keep the public informed as the programme progresses.
Photo caption: Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs Minister, Alva Baptiste.