South Sudan Accepts U.S. Deportees in Migration Deal

South Sudan Accepts U.S. Deportees in Migration Deal \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ South Sudan has accepted eight third-country deportees from the U.S., while Rwanda confirms talks with the Trump administration for a similar deal. Nigeria says it won’t comply with American pressure to accept migrants from other nations. The shift marks a new U.S. strategy expanding deportation partnerships across Africa.

Quick Looks

• South Sudan accepts 8 third-country deportees from the U.S.
• Rwanda in talks for migrant transfer deal
• Nigeria rejects U.S. pressure to accept deportees
• Trump meets West African leaders to discuss migration
• Officials say deportations target national security threats
• African leaders cautious, seek clarity on U.S. expectations
• Experts say deportation deals may link to aid, trade
• Rights groups raise concerns over legal, safety issues
• South Sudan decision sparks backlash at home
• Rwanda’s human rights record under scrutiny amid talks

Deep Look

U.S. Targets African Partnerships for Third-Country Deportations as South Sudan Agrees, Nigeria Pushes Back

The Trump administration is quietly expanding its deportation strategy by negotiating third-country resettlement agreements with African nations, marking a new phase in U.S. immigration policy. South Sudan has already accepted eight deportees from the United States—only one of whom is South Sudanese—and Rwanda has confirmed that discussions are underway for a similar deal. Meanwhile, Nigeria has pushed back against what it describes as external pressure to accept migrants with no direct ties to the country.

This marks the first known implementation of such deportation deals on the African continent, broadening a controversial U.S. practice previously focused on Latin America. While hundreds of deportees—mostly Venezuelans—have been redirected to Costa Rica, Panama, and El Salvador, the Trump administration is now looking beyond the Western Hemisphere.

Officials claim that these deportations are a necessary response to unmanageable migration flows and potential security threats. But human rights organizations warn of serious legal and ethical risks, particularly when migrants are sent to countries where they have no familial, cultural, or legal connections—and which may have histories of human rights violations.

Trump Hosts West African Summit to Discuss Migration Deals

President Donald Trump underscored this shift in strategy during a summit at the White House this week with the leaders of five West African countries: Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Gabon. The meeting focused heavily on migration, with Trump emphasizing the need for countries to take back their nationals and, potentially, accept third-country deportees.

“We’re having productive conversations about migration partnerships,” Trump told the leaders, according to sources familiar with the summit. U.S. Border Enforcement Chief Tom Homan later told reporters, “If a person poses a public or national security threat, they won’t remain on U.S. streets. We’ll send them to a third, safe nation—and we are already doing it.”

While the leaders of Guinea-Bissau and Liberia confirmed that migration was discussed, they stated that Trump did not directly request they accept third-country deportees. “They’re not forcing anybody,” said Liberian President Joseph Boakai. “They are sharing their concerns and asking how we can contribute.”

Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló said Trump raised the idea in general terms but made no specific demands.

Nigeria, however, issued a firm rejection. Foreign Minister Yussuf Tuggar told reporters that while the U.S. has approached multiple African countries, Nigeria will not agree to host deportees from third countries. “We have enough problems of our own,” he said Thursday. “We won’t yield to pressure.”

Deportation Deals Tied to U.S. Leverage, Say Analysts

Analysts say these deportation partnerships could serve as bargaining chips in broader negotiations over trade, aid, and immigration policy. Several African countries have recently been hit with U.S. visa restrictions or reductions in foreign assistance, and some may see cooperation on deportation as a path to restored favor.

Beverly Ochieng, an analyst at Control Risks, told the Associated Press that the prospect of economic retaliation or loss of diplomatic access could push some governments toward acceptance. “Countries might prefer reaching a deal over facing lost access to the U.S. economy or broader development initiatives,” she said. “That pressure is amplified by the drawdown in developmental aid.”

South Sudan Accepts Deportees, Faces Backlash

So far, only South Sudan has publicly accepted third-country deportees. According to officials, eight individuals with criminal convictions were flown in, though only one was South Sudanese. The Foreign Ministry in Juba has refused to comment on the nature of the agreement.

Alan Boswell, director of the Horn of Africa program at the International Crisis Group, said the decision likely reflects strategic diplomacy. “South Sudan wants to avoid additional sanctions or visa bans. Agreeing to this deal may be seen as a goodwill gesture to the Trump administration,” he explained.

But the move has drawn sharp criticism at home. Civil society leader Edmund Yakani condemned the transfer, stating: “South Sudan is not a dumping ground for criminals.”

Legal Gray Area Raises Rights Concerns

U.S. officials have declined to provide details on the legal status or ongoing oversight of the deported individuals. Tom Homan said Friday that he didn’t know the current whereabouts or legal condition of the eight deportees, noting only that “they are no longer in U.S. custody.”

This ambiguity has sparked concern among immigration lawyers and human rights advocates. Michelle Mittelstadt, spokesperson for the Migration Policy Institute, warned of potential violations. “There’s a lot of confusion and lack of clarity over who actually has control of these individuals once they are deported to a third country,” she said. “It raises questions about legal status, access to representation, and physical safety.”

Rwanda in Talks Despite International Scrutiny

Rwanda’s Foreign Minister confirmed last month that negotiations with the U.S. are underway regarding a deportation partnership. While details remain scarce, the country has already drawn international attention over a similar agreement with the United Kingdom.

That UK-Rwanda deportation plan, signed in 2022, aimed to relocate asylum-seekers who arrived in Britain via unauthorized routes. However, it was blocked by the UK Supreme Court in 2023, which ruled that Rwanda was not a legally “safe” country for deportees due to human rights concerns.

Human rights organizations have long criticized Rwanda’s detention conditions and political climate. Some detainees—especially perceived government critics—have died in custody under questionable circumstances.

Despite these warnings, Rwanda continues to be viewed by some Western governments as a willing partner in their efforts to outsource migration enforcement.

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