The US has signed deportation agreements with Honduras and Uganda, aimed at expediting the removal of migrants. These arrangements, part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration, have faced backlash for potentially risking migrants' safety and violating international law.
US Expands Deportation Agreements with Honduras and Uganda
US Expands Deportation Agreements with Honduras and Uganda
New bilateral deportation deals with Honduras and Uganda showcase the US's intensified immigration policies, drawing criticism from human rights advocates.
The United States has recently established bilateral deportation agreements with Honduras and Uganda as a strategy to intensify its crackdown on illegal immigration. According to documents acquired by CBS, these agreements entail the repatriation of migrants who sought asylum at the US-Mexico border, with Uganda accepting an uncertain number of asylum seekers primarily from Africa and Asia. In contrast, Honduras has agreed to receive several hundred deported individuals from Spanish-speaking nations.
These agreements are part of a wider initiative under the Trump administration aimed at persuading more countries to accept deported migrants who are not their own citizens. However, the approach has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations resembling the treatment these migrants may face upon return to host countries.
Under the Uganda agreement, deported individuals can only be accepted if they lack criminal backgrounds, although specifics regarding the number of migrants accepted remain ambiguous. Meanwhile, Honduras has committed to accept deportees over a two-year period, which may include families traveling with children, yet documents indicate the country could opt to take in additional migrants.
This pivot towards international deportation arrangements includes at least a dozen countries committed to accepting deported migrants from other nations, even those known for contentious human rights issues. Recently, the US State Department confirmed a "safe third country" pact with Paraguay to jointly manage illegal immigration.
Additionally, the Trump administration has actively engaged with several African nations, such as Rwanda, which has expressed willingness to resettle up to 250 migrants from the US. This agreement allows the Rwandan government to approve each individual designated for resettlement, amid concerns regarding Rwanda's human rights history.
The US's strategy involves multiple nations, with Panama and Costa Rica previously agreeing to accept hundreds of African and Asian migrants. Government documents reveal that the Trump administration has sought partnerships with countries like Ecuador and Spain for similar purposes.
As Trump has intensified actions to remove undocumented migrants since the start of his second term, his administration strives for effective enforcement of immigration policies—a critical element of his electoral platform. A Supreme Court ruling in June facilitated the resumption of deportations to third-party nations, which has raised legal concerns among dissenting justices and UN human rights experts, who argue that such actions may conflict with international law in terms of migrants' safety and rights.
The whirlwind of deals and arrangements reflects a significant and potentially dangerous shift in US immigration policy amid ongoing global humanitarian challenges.
