Durrant Pate/ Contributor

The United States Tuesday morning confirmed plans to expand travel restrictions to 36 additional countries, including four in the Caribbean.

The US State Department made the confirmation during a briefing this morning following a leaked memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that identified Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia among the countries facing new visa bans or other travel limitations.

State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce did not confirm any specific countries named in a June 14 Washington Post report but addressed the policy’s framework. Bruce reported that the new policy is based on a review of security and cooperation standards, not geography.

“The actual location of the country is not a factor,” she argued, saying, “these are about very specific aspects—whether or not the United States feels it can trust the information we rely on those countries for, to determine whether or not they’ll get a visa.” 

The Post reported that the memo instructed US diplomats to give the governments of the affected countries 60 days to meet updated benchmarks with an initial action plan due by 8 a.m. Wednesday. 

No deadline passed

Bruce rejected reports that a deadline had already passed. That’s not correct,” she told the briefing, adding, “They will have a considerable amount of time to rectify whatever the situation is that the State Department has determined is affecting the nature of our trust in how we issue a visa.”

The Governments of  St Kitts and Nevis and Dominica were swift in their response with the former today denying ever receiving any official communication from the US regarding travel restrictions, while Dominica took a more conciliatory approach saying there is no need or cause for panic, emphasizing its commitment to protecting citizens while managing the situation diplomatically.

In a statement on the matter, St. Kitts and Nevis reported, “No official correspondence or communication has been received from the United States Government, whether through our Embassy, Consular representatives, or any other channel.” The statement added that the government had “taken note of reports now circulating on various platforms” and acknowledged that “the mere circulation of such a report is concerning enough.”

Caribbean governments responding 

The St. Kitts and Nevis government said it is “actively engaging its diplomatic and international partners to determine the source, credibility, and veracity of the claims now in circulation,” and assured that “the protection of our citizens, at home and abroad, is a top priority.” 

Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerritt, confirmed his country’s commitment to work with international partners on addressing concerns, noting that his government is “prepared to address the concerns raised by international partners through appropriate diplomatic and cooperative means.”

He noted that from informal diplomatic channels, the government has learnt that the US concerns include illegal immigration and visa overstays by Dominican citizens. Bruce, referencing Executive Order 14161, said the US remains focused on protecting national security through its visa process. “We are committed to protecting our nation’s citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety,” she said.

The Post also reported that countries willing to accept deportees or sign a “safe third country” agreement could address some of the listed concerns. This follows a June 4 presidential proclamation that introduced full travel restrictions on several countries, including Haiti, Afghanistan, Libya, and Yemen, and partial restrictions on others such as Cuba, Venezuela, and Sierra Leone.