Uganda's Role in U.S. Deportation Policy Expansion

Twelve deportees arrived in Uganda from the U.S. under a new bilateral deal marking Uganda as a designated third-country destination for migrants. The policy, part of President Trump's immigration strategy, has attracted controversy. Uganda plans to contest the legitimacy of these deportations in court.

A group of 12 deportees from the United States arrived in Uganda on Thursday, according to the Uganda Law Society, in what is considered the first wave of transfers under a bilateral agreement with the U.S. This agreement identifies Uganda as a destination for migrants who cannot be returned to their home countries.

This deportation highlights President Donald Trump's expansion of the 'third-country' deportation policy, which has faced significant legal and human rights criticisms for sending individuals to nations with which they have no personal connections. Yasmeen Hibrawi, public affairs counsellor at the U.S. Embassy in Kampala, stated that these transfers, conducted under the Safe Third Country Agreement, are fully coordinated with the Ugandan government.

Though Uganda's foreign ministry has withheld comment, a senior government official who spoke anonymously confirmed the deportees' arrival. This official noted that the individuals would remain in Uganda during a transition phase for potential relocation to other countries. The nationalities of these deportees remain unclear.

(With inputs from agencies.)