Uganda Quietly Agrees to Receive African Deportees Under U.S. Deal
The Government of Uganda has agreed to a little-publicized arrangement with the United States to accept African migrants deported from America, including those who are not Ugandan nationals.
The deal is part of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s broader deportation strategy, which uses a “safe third country” provision in U.S. immigration law to reroute certain migrants to partner states.
According to officials familiar with the arrangement, Uganda’s acceptance comes with conditions, particularly that only deportees without criminal records will be considered.
The number of migrants to be relocated remains uncertain, but sources say the arrangement is “open-ended,” leaving room for expansion depending on U.S. enforcement priorities.
Uganda’s decision places it alongside Honduras, which has already agreed to host limited numbers of Latin American deportees, including families. Reports indicate that Washington has also approached Ecuador and Spain with similar proposals.
Critics have condemned the U.S. strategy as less about partnership and more about deterrence.
“The broader reason beyond that is fear and intimidation and ultimately incentivizing self-deportation,” said Doris Meissner, a former U.S. immigration commissioner.
A senior State Department official, while declining to address the Uganda deal specifically, defended the broader policy framework.
“The State Department is doing everything possible to support the President’s policy of keeping Americans safe by removing illegal aliens who have no right to be in the United States.”
Uganda, long known for its open-door approach to refugees it currently hosts more than 1.5 million displaced people may now be entering a new phase of migration diplomacy with Washington. Analysts suggest the move could redefine Kampala’s role in U.S. Africa relations on migration.
