President Irfaan Ali says Guyana’s participation in a controversial migration arrangement with the United States is tied to financial and technical support from Washington to help manage and integrate third-country nationals transferred from the US.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Ali said the programme must be a joint effort and that Guyana should not be expected to absorb the financial burden associated with receiving the individuals. Under the arrangement, the United States and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are responsible for funding relocation and support services.
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Ali stressed that Guyana retains complete discretion over who is admitted. The United States must provide information on proposed transferees, including available criminal and health records, before Guyanese authorities conduct their own security and health assessments. Only individuals formally approved by Guyana can be placed on a transfer flight, and Guyana retains the right to refuse entry.
The framework applies to third-country nationals with expedited or final US removal orders who have been medically cleared to travel. It excludes unaccompanied minors, Guyanese nationals, people with pending asylum claims in the United States, and individuals with known violent criminal records, according to the Guyanese government.
The first group arrived in Guyana on September 4. The government has described the arrangement as temporary and said it is not intended to constitute permanent resettlement. The individuals are being handled through the IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return Programme, which provides support such as accommodation, food, clothing and other basic assistance while their immigration status is determined.
Guyana has faced criticism over the agreement, including questions about its financial implications, transparency, human rights safeguards and the country’s capacity to manage additional migrants. The government has maintained that the arrangement does not compromise Guyana’s sovereignty and that it retains control over every admission decision.
The issue was among matters discussed by Ali with Guyana’s Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Foreign Relations on Tuesday. The President said the meeting was part of efforts to strengthen engagement between the executive and legislative branches on major foreign-policy issues, including the agreement with the United States.
Ali’s latest comments underscore that Guyana’s participation is linked to external financial and technical assistance, while the government maintains that final authority over who enters the country remains with Georgetown. The one-year framework is part of a broader US effort to establish arrangements with other countries for the handling of people removed from the United States.
