Guyana retains the authority to reject migrants proposed for relocation under a new migration cooperation agreement with the United States, President Irfaan Ali has said.

The one-year migration framework between Guyana and the US was recently finalized. The first group arrived on September 4 through the International Organization for Migration’s Assisted Voluntary Return Program.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Ali said local authorities conduct their own vetting before deciding whether migrants can enter the country. He stressed that the government has the final say over who it accepts.

Ali said the US cannot simply send migrants to Guyana without approval from local authorities. Officials can reject any person proposed for relocation under the agreement.

Authorities checked the first group before allowing them to enter. They found that the migrants had no criminal records.

Under the agreement, the US government covers the full cost of relocating the migrants. The International Organization for Migration manages their reception, housing, health care and other support during their stay.

The government has also stressed that the arrangement does not create a permanent resettlement programme.

Migrants accepted under the framework will remain in the country while authorities determine their immigration status. They could later return to their countries of origin or relocate elsewhere.

Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud said Georgetown and Washington spent months negotiating the agreement.

US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot previously thanked the country for helping the United States address its migration issues.

Government Maintains Control

Ali also defended the country’s treatment of migrants and its human rights record during the interview.

He pointed to Guyana’s record on Indigenous land titling and government funding for Amerindian communities.

The president said migrants already living in the country, including people from Venezuela and Cuba, can access social services.

Ali maintained that the agreement does not compromise national sovereignty. He said the government remains responsible for deciding who enters the country under the arrangement.

The framework allows the US and Guyana to cooperate on migration while maintaining local approval procedures. The first arrivals have already entered the country as both sides continue implementing the one-year agreement.