Upcoming review of US partial travel ban will result in Dominica’s restoration to ‘original days’ PM Skerrit

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced that in June 2026, the actions of the presidential proclamation issued by the United States (US) will be reviewed.

He made the disclosure during a press conference held recently.

The Presidential Proclamation was issued on December 16, 2025, which announced partial restrictions on the entry of Dominican nationals into the United States. It cites national security and public safety concerns, stating it is US policy “to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks and other national security and public safety threats.” It argues that weaknesses in foreign identity-management systems can limit the US government’s ability to properly vet travelers seeking entry.

According to the proclamation, US law enforcement and the Department of State have found that CBI programs have historically been vulnerable to risks, including concealment of identity and assets, and circumvention of travel, financial, or banking restrictions.

“On the issue of our engagement with the US and Dominica, I can say to you that every week our Ambassador to the United States has an engagement with State Department on our bilateral issues and multilateral issues. And I receive reports of this from the ambassador every week,” Skerrit explained. “And of course central to this is the visa restrictions by the United States of America.”

The Prime Minister explained that when he met with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio in St Kitts and Nevis recently, “he made it clear to us this was a temporary measure and that they were doing internal reviews and so on. And he was pressed for a time frame and he intimated, he didn’t want to hold on to that, but he intimated that there will be review sometime in June of this year on the actions of the proclamation.”

Skerrit said that his administration is looking forward to that.

Furthermore, he stated that as far as the Government of Dominica is concerned, whatever concerns the US may have outlined publicly or implied in bilateral discussions, “we believe that we would have addressed.”

Skerrit went on to add that as far as Dominica is concerned there are no outstanding issues on the table to be dealt with by the Government of Dominica.

“As you know, we are a country that respects international law. We respect the rights of any country to take whatever action they need to protect their borders and the security and whatever policy in the legislation they implement to improve their economy and the way of life. We respect that,” he emphasized.

Skerrit said his government looks forward to a positive review by the United States in respect to the proclamation, “And that we can go back to the original days, which we all enjoyed.”