Uganda, US Strike Controversial Migrant Deportation Deal
Agreement targets African migrants without criminal records.
Uganda has entered into a controversial agreement with the United States to accept deported migrants, provided they have no criminal records and are not unaccompanied minors, officials announced on Thursday. The deal, described as “concluded” by the Ugandan foreign affairs ministry, is part of the US’s broader push to secure third-country deportation arrangements, but its implementation details remain under negotiation.
The ministry emphasized a preference for deportees of African nationalities, aligning with Uganda’s regional focus. However, International Relations Minister Henry Okello Oryem expressed skepticism about the arrangement, questioning the rationale of accepting individuals rejected by their home countries. “We are talking about cartels: people unwanted in their own nations. How can we integrate them into Ugandan communities?” Oryem told The Associated Press, highlighting potential challenges to social cohesion.
Oryem clarified that discussions with the US also involve visas, tariffs, and sanctions, suggesting that accepting deportees could strain Uganda’s globally praised refugee policy. “It would be unfair to Ugandans to prioritize illegal aliens,” he added. The agreement’s scope remains unclear, with no confirmed number of deportees Uganda might accept.
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This deal follows recent US deportations of individuals with criminal backgrounds to Eswatini and South Sudan in July, raising concerns about human rights in recipient countries. Critics argue that such arrangements risk sending migrants to nations ill-equipped to support them, while the US continues to court other African nations, including Rwanda, for similar deals.
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