US Deports Eight Individuals of African Origin to Uganda Under New Migration Deal
US Deports Eight Individuals to Uganda
The United States has deported eight individuals of African origin to Uganda, the first such transfer under a controversial migration agreement established last year. The group arrived in Uganda on Wednesday after their cases were approved by a US judge, according to Uganda's foreign ministry.
The Ugandan foreign ministry stated that its deal with the US designates Uganda as a safe third country for migrants unable to return to their nations of origin due to reasons such as persecution. However, the Uganda Law Society has vehemently condemned the deportations, describing the process as "undignified, harrowing and dehumanising" and an effective "dumping" of individuals in the country. The organisation has vowed to challenge the legality of these actions in court.
The US Department of Homeland Security has been approached for comment regarding these deportations. This action aligns with the hard-line immigration policies of the US administration, which has deported dozens of individuals to third countries since taking office.
Uganda's foreign ministry, while citing privacy concerns for limited details, affirmed its commitment to "providing sanctuary to persons in need and assuring they are treated with dignity." It confirmed the deportees are neither Ugandan nor US citizens but are individuals "of African origin who may not be granted asylum in the USA and are reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their country of origin." Uganda is one of several African nations, including Eswatini, Ghana, and South Sudan, that have accepted deportees from the US under similar arrangements.
