US Expands Deportation Agreements with Honduras and Uganda

In a bid to bolster its crackdown on illegal immigration, the US has secured bilateral agreements with Honduras and Uganda to accept deported migrants, despite criticism from human rights advocates regarding the potential dangers faced by individuals sent to these countries.

The United States has finalized bilateral deportation agreements with Honduras and Uganda, a strategic move aimed at enhancing its efforts to manage illegal immigration, according to documents received by CBS, a partner of the BBC. Under these agreements, Uganda will accept an unspecified number of African and Asian migrants who sought asylum at the US-Mexico border, while Honduras is set to take in several hundred individuals from Spanish-speaking countries.

This initiative aligns with the Trump administration’s campaign to secure greater cooperation from other nations to accept deported individuals who are not originally theirs. Critics, including human rights activists, have raised alarms about the policy, arguing that migrants may face real dangers if sent back to nations where their safety could be compromised.

The stipulations of the Uganda agreement indicate that only those without criminal records will be accepted, yet the exact number of migrants slated for deportation remains ambiguous. In itself, the agreement with Honduras extends over a two-year period, accommodating families traveling with children and potentially accepting more participants as negotiations progress.

These arrangements are part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration, which has also sought similar agreements with a dozen countries worldwide, some of which are recognized for troubling human rights practices. Notably, just last week, the US State Department announced a "safe third country" pact with Paraguay intended to disperse the responsibilities involved in managing illegal immigration.

Additionally, the White House is actively engaging with various African nations, with Rwanda agreeing earlier this month to take in up to 250 migrants from the US—albeit with provisions enabling it to vet each individual for resettlement. Rwanda's human rights record has drawn scrutiny, raising concerns about the possibility of deportations to nations where the migrants may face further dangers.

Earlier this year, Panama and Costa Rica also reached agreements to accept several hundred migrants from the US, as the Trump administration explores options with countries like Ecuador and Spain. Following the start of Trump’s second term, comprehensive measures to expel undocumented migrants have been deployed, a promise that garnered substantial voter support during the campaign trail.

In June, a landmark ruling from the US Supreme Court authorized the administration to resume deportations to third countries without affording migrants the opportunity to argue against potential dangers they might encounter, prompting dissent from several justices who decried the decision as an egregious misuse of authority. Additionally, human rights organizations and UN experts contend that these practices may contravene international law standards.