US Expands Deportation Agreements with Honduras and Uganda

The US has finalized deportation agreements with Honduras and Uganda, aiming to curb illegal immigration. The deals have sparked criticism from human rights advocates who warn of potential dangers for deported migrants.

The United States has recently formalized bilateral deportation agreements with both Honduras and Uganda as part of its intensified efforts to manage illegal immigration, according to documents reviewed by CBS, a partner of the BBC. Under these agreements, Uganda has consented to accept a yet-to-be-determined number of African and Asian migrants who previously sought asylum at the US-Mexico border, while Honduras will facilitate the return of several hundred migrants primarily from Spanish-speaking countries.

This initiative aligns with the Trump administration's overarching strategy to persuade global nations to accept individuals who are not their citizens but are subject to deportation from the US. However, human rights organizations have raised alarms over the potential consequences faced by these migrants, who may be relocated to nations where they could be at significant risk.

The specifics of the agreements dictate that Uganda will only accept deported migrants without criminal backgrounds, but the exact figures of those it could potentially house remain unspecified. In contrast, Honduras has committed to taking in migrants over a two-year span, including families traveling with minors, with provisions that allow for an increase in the number of accepted individuals.

These efforts are part of a wider campaign from the Trump administration to establish similar arrangements across various regions, including partnerships with countries that have dubious human rights practices. The US State Department recently announced a "safe third country" agreement with Paraguay aimed at sharing the responsibilities of managing illegal immigration.

Moreover, Rwanda has indicated it will accept up to 250 migrants from the US, with the stipulation that it will have the final say on individual cases. Rwanda's human rights record has previously faced scrutiny due to concerns for the safety of deported individuals who could face additional threats upon their arrival. Earlier this year, similar agreements were struck with Panama and Costa Rica.

As part of a robust enforcement strategy initiated during his second term, Trump has made it a priority to eliminate undocumented migration—a significant promise that garnered extensive support in his election campaign. In June, the US Supreme Court notably supported the administration's plan to deport migrants to third countries without allowing them to contest the potential risks they may encounter, a decision that faced dissent from Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, who criticized it as a "gross abuse" of judicial power.

Moreover, both UN human rights experts and various advocacy groups have voiced concerns that resulting removals could contravene international laws regarding the protection of vulnerable individuals.