US Expands Third-Country Deportations to Africa, South Sudan Accepts

The Trump administration is expanding its policy of deporting migrants to third countries by exploring deals with African nations, including South Sudan, which has accepted eight deportees, and Rwanda, which is in talks with the U.S. Nigeria, however, has rejected pressure to participate in such agreements. These efforts mark a broader strategy to deter what U.S. officials describe as unmanageable migration, with Trump recently hosting a summit at the White House with leaders from Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Gabon to discuss migration and the acceptance of deported nationals, including third-country migrants. U.S. border official Tom Homan emphasized that migrants deemed security threats would be sent to safe third countries rather than allowed to remain in the U.S. Human rights advocates have expressed concerns about deporting people to countries where they have no ties or that may have histories of rights violations. The approach echoes previous controversial plans such as the UK's attempt to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, which was ruled illegal by the UK Supreme Court. African leaders, including Liberia's Joseph Boakai, acknowledge discussions on the topic but emphasize there is no coercion to accept third-country nationals.