Guyana

The United States and Guyana have signed a third country national transfer agreement though the operational details are unknown.

The disclosed diplomatic note from Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says only that Guyana will accept third country nationals and assures that they will be not be subject to torture or persecution in Guyana or transferred by Guyana to any country where thet would be so subject. Notably, Guyana is not a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol. It also has no national legislation for granting asylum and UNHCR has a recently reduced presence in the country. That Guyana is not legally bound by the non-refoulement obligations of the Refugee Convention puts at risk third country nationals removed to Guyana and particularly those granted withholding of removal by U.S. immigration judges. 

According to Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, Guyana would consider admitting selected migrants without criminal records who possess skills sought in Guyana’s labor market. Guyana’s private sector faces significant labor shortages as the country’s economy expands rapidly due to its oil boom. Guyanese authorities have asserted that Guyana would retain the right to refuse any individual who the United States proposes for transfer, and that the United States would bear the costs of integrating third country nationals.