New England Gazzette

New York, NY — The Trump administration has announced a major expansion of U.S. travel and immigration restrictions that would affect nearly all member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), placing the region squarely within a broader list of more than 75 countries facing new limits on entry into the United States.

Under the proposed measures, all but three CARICOM nations — Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Montserrat — are included in the expanded travel ban, according to reporting by The Times. The policy primarily targets immigrant visa applicants and is justified by the administration on economic grounds rather than security concerns.

U.S. officials stated that nationals from the affected countries are considered more likely to become a “public charge,” a term used in immigration law to describe individuals who may depend on government assistance once in the United States. The administration argues that the restrictions are necessary to protect U.S. taxpayers and reduce strain on public resources.

“This action reflects a commitment to ensuring that immigration serves the national interest,” a senior administration official said, adding that the decision was based on assessments of visa overstay rates, income levels, and use of public benefits.

The expanded ban places 12 of CARICOM’s 15 member states on the restricted list, including Jamaica, Haiti, Barbados, The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Belize, and Suriname. Immigrant visa processing for nationals of these countries would be suspended, while non-immigrant visas such as tourist and business travel would be subject to increased scrutiny.

The exemption of Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Montserrat sets them apart from their regional neighbors. Analysts note that these countries may have avoided inclusion due to a combination of economic indicators, bilateral cooperation with the United States, and lower assessed risk of visa overstays or public assistance reliance.

Caribbean leaders have responded with sharp criticism, warning that the policy unfairly labels entire nations and undermines decades of diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties with the United States. CARICOM officials say Caribbean migrants have historically contributed to key U.S. sectors, including health care, construction, education, and energy.

“This approach paints the region with a broad and damaging brush,” one Caribbean diplomat said. “Our people are not a burden — they are contributors.”

Immigration advocates in the United States also raised concerns that the ban could disrupt family reunification, delay employment-based migration, and strain relations with close U.S. partners in the Caribbean. Legal experts predict that the policy could face court challenges, echoing earlier Trump-era travel bans that were contested on constitutional and humanitarian grounds.

The administration has indicated that limited waivers may be granted in exceptional circumstances, but no clear guidance has been issued. CARICOM governments are expected to raise the issue collectively in diplomatic talks with Washington in the coming weeks, seeking either clarification or exemptions as the policy moves toward implementation.

For thousands of Caribbean families with ties to the United States, the announcement has introduced new uncertainty, reinforcing concerns that immigration policy is once again becoming a flashpoint in U.S.–Caribbean relations.