The Antigua and Barbuda government issued a statement Wednesday reassuring Americans that travel between the U.S. and the Caribbean country is not banned, responding to speculation that it will be on a Trump administration list of nations with deficient vetting and screening.
"We are aware of recent media reports speculating about potential travel bans. However, we emphasize that no such ban has been imposed, nor has the United States government indicated that such a measure is under consideration," the Antigua and Barbuda government said. "The government of Antigua and Barbuda maintains open communication channels with U.S. authorities and confirms that no advisories or indications suggest changes to current travel arrangements."
The New York Times on March 14 published a report saying that the Trump administration was considering a travel ban or travel restrictions on 43 countries, based on a draft list of recommendations that the Times obtained.
Many other publications have subsequently reported on the draft list, increasing the noise surrounding the speculation. As of March 19, the Trump administration hasn't issued a travel ban or restrictions.
According to the Times report, Antigua and Barbuba was on the "yellow" draft list, which means the country would have 60 days from the issuance of an order to "clear up perceived deficiencies, with the threat of being moved onto one of the other lists if it did not comply." Antigua and Barbuda was one of 22 countries on the "yellow" draft list.
Deficiencies could include failing to share with the U.S. information about incoming travelers, inadequate security practices for issuing passports, or the selling of citizenship to people from banned countries, the New York Times reported.
Antigua and Barbuda wasn't the only Caribbean country on the "yellow" draft list. St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Dominica were on it, too.
Citizens from 11 countries on the "red" draft list would be flatly barred from entering the U.S., the Times reported. The draft proposal also included an "orange" list of 10 countries for which travel would be restricted but not cut off.
The government of Antigua and Barbuda noted in its statement that legal residents of the U.S. can visit its country without a visa. The Caribbean country's government also said U.S. travelers "remain warmly welcomed."
"We deeply value our friendly and cooperative relationship with the United States and look forward to strengthening the ties that bind our nations," the government of Antigua and Barbuda said.
A Trump travel ban would not be a surprise. On the campaign trail, Trump vowed in September to "seal
our border and bring back the travel ban."
During Trump's first term, he issued a travel ban targeting seven
Muslim-majority countries before he revised it to six countries.
Although the executive order faced legal pushback, the revised ban was upheld by the Supreme
Court. The revised order banned nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen from entering
the U.S. Upon taking office, President Joe Biden overturned Trump's order.