🏛️ Government · U.S. Virgin Islands
Bryan met with White House aide on de minimis policy, EU blacklist and H-2B issues
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. met with White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair in Washington, D.C., and urged federal action on changes to the de minimis exemption, according to Government House.
In a statement published Feb. 23, 2026, Government House said Bryan told Blair the changes were increasing costs and delays for Virgin Islands residents and businesses that rely on mail-order purchases and small-scale shipping. The administration said Bryan asked for policy adjustments tailored to the territory's economic and geographic conditions.
Government House also said Bryan raised the U.S. Virgin Islands' inclusion on a European Union blacklist and urged action to remove the territory from the list. Blair committed to looking into the matter, according to the statement.
The two also discussed H-2B visa issues affecting the territory's hospitality, construction and specialized services sectors, Government House said. Blair agreed to work with Department of Homeland Security officials on a more flexible approach to the program, according to the statement.