Deals reflect Trump's administration's continuing effort to manage illegal immigration through international cooperation.
US Expands Deportation Policy with New Agreements in Central Africa and Latin America
US Expands Deportation Policy with New Agreements in Central Africa and Latin America
US strengthens ties with Honduras and Uganda to facilitate deportations amid criticisms from human rights advocates.
The United States has initiated new bilateral deportation agreements with Honduras and Uganda as part of an ongoing strategy to manage illegal immigration, according to documents acquired by CBS, a partner of the BBC. The deal with Uganda involves accepting an unspecified number of African and Asian migrants who had sought asylum at the US-Mexico border. In contrast, Honduras is set to accept several hundred deported individuals primarily from Spanish-speaking countries.
These agreements are part of the Trump administration's broader efforts to encourage foreign nations to accept deported individuals who are not their own citizens. Human rights advocates have criticized this policy, warning that deported migrants could be sent to countries where they face potential harm. Per the Uganda agreement, the country will accept migrants without criminal records, although the exact number remains unclear. Honduras, however, has committed to taking in families traveling with children over a span of two years but may increase its intake further based on evolving circumstances.
This latest initiative is alongside other international agreements, including a recent "safe third country" arrangement with Paraguay to help manage illegal immigration. The White House has also been negotiating with several African countries, including Rwanda, which has indicated it will accept up to 250 migrants from the US, with specific approval processes for each individual. Human rights records of these countries have raised concerns, with critics highlighting the risks involved in sending migrants to places where they may be subjected to further threats.
The Trump administration's push for deportation arrangements spans multiple continents, with at least a dozen nations already agreeing to accept deported migrants. Critically, the US Supreme Court has recently permitted Trump to resume deportations to nations other than the migrants' homelands without allowing for appeals regarding potential risks, a move that dissenting justices termed as "a gross abuse." International human rights experts have echoed concerns that these deportations could infringe on international laws protecting the rights of migrants.
