The United States and the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) have signed a new biometric data-sharing agreement aimed at strengthening border security, immigration screening, and identity verification across the Caribbean. The agreement also includes measures to strengthen security screening in the five Eastern Caribbean countries that operate Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs.
The Biometrics Data Sharing Partnership (BDSP) Memorandum of Cooperation was signed on July 10, 2026, at the Embassy of Saint Kitts and Nevis in Washington, D.C. The agreement was signed by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy and Plans Rob Law and CARICOM IMPACS Executive Director Lt. Col. Michael Jones.
What the Agreement Covers
The memorandum establishes a framework for the secure exchange of biometric and associated biographical information between the United States and CARICOM IMPACS.
According to DHS, the framework will support automated biometric queries, identity verification, screening, vetting, and investigations involving individuals who may pose national security, public safety, or immigration risks. The objective is to strengthen identity verification and help authorities identify potential threats before they reach regional borders.
CARICOM IMPACS said the partnership will support real-time risk assessments, strengthen law enforcement cooperation, and enhance criminal investigations across CARICOM member states and associate members. The agency added that the network is designed to improve border security while supporting regional efforts to combat transnational crime.
Focus on Citizenship by Investment Programs
A significant element of the agreement relates to the five Eastern Caribbean countries that operate Citizenship by Investment programs:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Dominica
- Grenada
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
According to DHS, the agreement will strengthen screening for applicants seeking citizenship through these programs by improving identity verification and expanding access to biometric information during due diligence processes.
CARICOM IMPACS said the partnership will provide participating governments with additional security tools to conduct data-driven background checks while supporting the integrity of their economic citizenship programs. The agency also noted that the biometric network will complement the planned Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA), which is intended to strengthen oversight and regulatory cooperation across the region’s CBI programs.
Part of Broader Regional Security Cooperation
The signing represents the first multilateral biometric information-sharing arrangement concluded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Officials from the White House Homeland Security Council, the U.S. Department of State, CARICOM IMPACS, and diplomatic representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines attended the signing ceremony.
The agreement reflects continued security cooperation between the United States and CARICOM on border management, identity verification, immigration integrity, and efforts to combat transnational crime through enhanced information sharing.
What It Means for Caribbean Investment Migration
In recent years, Caribbean governments have introduced a series of reforms to strengthen their Citizenship by Investment programs. These include mandatory applicant interviews, enhanced due diligence procedures, biometric identity verification measures in some jurisdictions, and plans for regional oversight through the upcoming Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority.
The Biometrics Data Sharing Partnership adds another layer to these reforms by creating a mechanism for closer cooperation between the United States and CARICOM on biometric identity verification, applicant screening, and border security.
The Agreement Does Not Change Existing U.S. Entry Restrictions
The agreement does not alter the partial U.S. entry and visa restrictions imposed under Presidential Proclamation 10998. Signed on December 16, 2025, and effective since January 1, 2026, the proclamation applies restrictions to certain nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, subject to specified exceptions.
The Biometrics Data Sharing Partnership establishes a separate framework for biometric information sharing, identity verification, and security cooperation between DHS and CARICOM IMPACS. It does not suspend, modify, or remove the restrictions imposed under Presidential Proclamation 10998. Any future change to those measures would require a separate decision by the U.S. government.
