Grenada

On January 30, 2026, the United States and Grenada signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Washington DC. The government of Grenada said it initially declined to sign the MOU but agreed after repeated requests from the U.S. government over many months. The Prime Minister said that the agreement was a potential opportunity to solve labor shortages in the construction, agriculture, and hospitality sectors, and the text of the MOU said that preference would be given to individuals who contribute to Grenada's development. 

In the MOU, Grenada committed that third country nationals would not be subjected to persecution or torture in Grenada or any country where they would be further transferred. Yet, Grenada is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees. It has no formal process for recognizing refugees, with asylum interviews conducted on an ad hoc basis.  

In December and early January 2026, other small Caribbean nations, including St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, signed similar agreements with the United States. These agreements were signed during a period of heightened political tension in the Caribbean over recent U.S. government actions, including lethal strikes on migrant boats and a U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. On February 25, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Saint Kitts and Nevis for the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, where he discussed security, immigration, promoting growth, health, and energy security. 

In July 2026, the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) took place, with the leaders in attendance releasing a statement expressing concerns about third country removal agreements. The statement emphasized the agreement’s purpose is to serve solely as a transit point for individuals being sent back to their home countries, which raises concerns about potential chain refoulement.

The United States is Grenada’s largest trading partner, with Grenada benefitting from the U.S. State Department Caribbean Basin Initiative. Bilateral ties have strained over recent developments. In August 2025, the Trump administration issued visa restrictions for Grenadian officials and their family members over their alleged involvement and cooperation with Cuba’s overseas medical programs, which Grenadian officials claim is vital for their health system. In January 2026, the U.S. government included Grenada in the list of the 75 countries for which it partially suspended immigrant visa processing, and then in March 2026, Grenada was included on the expanded list of 50 countries that could be subjected to visa bonds. Finally, as of August 2026, the U.S. government is considering closing the U.S. Embassy in Grenada.