Guyana begins temporarily taking third country nationals from US

Last Updated on Saturday, 5 September 2026, 8:52 by Written By Denis Chabrol

Guyana on Saturday said it reached agreement with the United States (US) to take a “limited number” of “vetted number of skilled and non-criminal” third country nationals from the United States (US), and already half a dozen of them have arrived in Guyana.

A joint US-Guyana statement says the third country nationals will remain here until their immigration status is determined by that country, after which they would have to leave Guyana, according to a Guyana government statement.

“The arrangement is temporary in nature and does not constitute permanent resettlement. Individuals relocated to Guyana under the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme do so voluntarily and will await the outcome of their immigration status determination while in Guyana. Depending on the outcome, individuals will either return to their country of origin or relocate elsewhere of their choosing. Their presence in Guyana is governed by a set of pre-defined terms rather than open-ended residency,” according to the statement

Demerara Waves Online News was informed by a well-placed source that already six persons- Afghans and Cubans-arrived in Guyana on Friday. The source said under the initial 12-month agreement, Guyana could take up to 12 persons monthly, based on costings and other arrangements. There would be no monthly roll-over of the number of persons, the source added.

Under the migration cooperation framework, the United States (US) would be funding the migrants through the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme (AVP) of the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), a United Nations organisation.

As part of the framework, the statement says Guyana retains full discretion to review and reject any individual proposed for relocation, and the United States will bear the full cost of the relocation process. The Government of Guyana says it intends to accept only individuals who have chosen relocation to Guyana of their own volition.

IOM, the UN Migration Agency, will be responsible for the operational implementation of the programme. IOM will cover the costs of receiving, housing and supporting individuals relocated to Guyana, and will provide the services needed for their integration, including access to communication with legal representatives and family members, according to the statement.

The statement says the government of Guyana will not bear the financial cost of the programme, and IOM has confirmed it will not assume, and this arrangement will not transfer to it, any of the Government’s responsibilities concerning admission, legal stay, protection or removal.

President Irfaan Ali’s government says it has framed the arrangement as an extension of Guyana’s longstanding commitment to human rights and international cooperation. The Government insisted that individuals relocated to Guyana must retain the right to seek international protection where applicable, and the IOM will support the referral of such cases to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in coordination with the relevant Guyanese authorities. The Government has also confirmed regular, effective and sufficiently private access to communication with legal representatives and family members.

“The framework is the latest expression of the steadfast partnership between Guyana and the United States, which has blossomed under President Irfaan Ali’s Government across energy, trade, investment, security and diplomatic cooperation. It reflects the strength and maturity of the bilateral relationship and Guyana’s standing as a trusted and constructive partner to the United States in the region,” according to the statement.

The Government of Guyana says it will continue to work closely with the IOM, the UNHCR and relevant domestic stakeholders to ensure the framework is implemented in a manner consistent with Guyana’s laws, its human rights obligations and its national development priorities.