Increasing Numbers of Third-Country Immigrants Deported by the US Arrive in Africa: Key Data to Understand

The West African nation of Ghana now joins the ranks of other African countries, like Eswatini, Rwanda, and South Sudan, in receiving individuals deported by the United States, a development raising legal concerns among attorneys representing the deportees. Uganda has also struck a deal with the U.S. but has not yet accepted any deported immigrants. Analysts suggest these nations may engage in such deportation agreements to garner favor with the Trump administration on issues such as trade and foreign aid. Ghanaian officials recently stated that 14 deportees, primarily Nigerians and one Gambian, have been returned to their respective home countries. While they defended the action on humanitarian grounds, lawyers argue that the deportation breached international standards. Critics point to poor human rights records in many of these receiving nations, questioning the legality and morality of such deportations. Legal experts emphasize the U.S. government's disregard for its obligations to protect these individuals, raising alarms about widespread human rights violations.