US Seeks West African Cooperation for Migrant Deportations

President Donald Trump's administration is actively pressing five West African nations—Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Gabon—to accept migrants deported by the U.S. when their home countries refuse or delay repatriation. This deportation plan was a key topic during a White House meeting with these African leaders, with the State Department urging them to facilitate 'dignified, safe, and timely transfer' of third-country nationals. Liberia is reportedly preparing to accommodate migrants in its capital, Monrovia, though it is unclear if the countries have formally agreed to the plan. The policy reflects a broader shift in U.S. immigration enforcement under President Trump, including redirecting deportations to third-party countries such as South Sudan, which recently received migrants following legal battles. This initiative is intertwined with the administration's foreign policy goals, emphasizing a move from aid to trade in U.S.-Africa relations. The diplomatic implications remain uncertain as official responses from the African governments are still pending.