Dakar, Senegal (AP) — South Sudan has accepted eight third-party deporters from the US, and Rwanda is speaking on a similar contract to President Donald Trump's administration, but Nigeria says it has refused the same thing.
Although little is known in detail, these initiatives in Africa show an expansion of The US efforts to deport people to a country other than themselves. The US has sent hundreds of Venezuelans and others to Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama, but has yet to announce large-scale deals with governments in Africa, Asia and Europe.
While supporters view such programs as a way of describing uncontrollable levels of immigration, human rights advocates raised concerns about sending immigrants to countries where they may not be involved or have a history of rights violations.
Last year, the UK Supreme Court ruled that similar plans to deport asylum seekers in Rwanda was illegal.
Trump meets West African leaders
Earlier this week, Trump held a summit with five West African leaders at the White House, highlighting new dealings US policies on the continent.
Trump discussed immigration with leaders in Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon. This includes the return of citizens who have no right to remain in the United States, and the need to accept the possibility of accepting deported citizens of third countries.
US border emperor Tom Homan told media on Friday that the Trump administration hopes to build deals with “many countries” to accept deported immigrants.
“If there is a serious public or national security threat – there is certainly one thing: they are not walking through the streets of this country.
What African leaders say
Liberian President Joseph Boachey told the Liberian media on Friday. Third people were debated, but Trump said he had not directly asked Liberia for such an outcast.
“They're not forced by anyone, but they want us to know that this is a concern they have, he said.
Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Siso Embaro said Trump discussed the topic during the summit, but did not specifically ask African countries to agree to accept the resignation. Other West African governments did not reply to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Foreign Minister Isf Tagar said such conversations were being held between US representatives and several African countries, but he refused to provide details.
He said late Thursday that Nigeria should not succumb to what he said as pressure to accept deportees from third countries.
What is there for African countries?
Experts say some African countries may seek to promote US deportation programs to gain goodwill in reducing tariffs, US aid, or reducing visa restrictions that have hit several African countries in recent months.
Beverly Ochien, an analyst at control risk at a security consulting firm, said he wanted to reach immigration transactions to avoid a situation where “lossing access to the US economy or economic initiatives or bilateral relationships.”
These factors are particularly important “in light of the withdrawal of developmental aid,” Ochieng told The Associated Press.
What has been done so far
So far, South Sudan is the only African country to accept third-country fortresses from the United States, accepting eight criminally convicted exiles.
It is unclear what kind of transactions were launched between the two countries. South Sudan's Foreign Ministry refuses to answer questions.
Alan Boswell, Africa's Horn Program Director for International Crisis Group Think Tank, said South Sudan “has many reasons to want to avoid the Trump administration, to avoid visa bans, to drive out more sanctions on elites, or generally seek bounty.”
The decision has attracted criticism from South Sudan's civil society and some members of the government. “South Sudan is not a dumping ground for criminals,” said Edmund Yakani, a leader in the country's well-known civil society.
U.S. Border Emperor Homan said on Friday he didn't know what the eight men were doing and said they were no longer in US custody.
Michel Mittelstadt, a spokesman for the Institute for Immigration Policy, said lawyers and supporters were concerned about such uncertainty regarding the legal status and safety of such immigrants.
“There is not much confusion and clarity about who actually controls these individuals when they are deported to third countries,” Mittelstadt said.
Rwandan's Foreign Minister told the Associated Press last month Meetings with the US were underway On a potential agreement to host deported migrants without providing details. The US State Department declined to comment on potential deals. Rights groups have long criticised Rwanda for their human rights records, particularly the death of Rwanda's custody of perceived government critics.
UK I signed a contract In 2022, we will send migrants who have arrived in the UK with Rwanda, either as dozing off or on boats to East African countries. However, the plan was stagnated by legal challenges and was criticized by human rights groups.
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Associated Press authors Mark Bunchelow and Wilson McMakin are Dakar, Senegal. Ope Adetayo, Lagos, Nigeria; Joseph Falzetta, located in Juba, South Sudan, contributed to this report.
