Uganda may soon become a new destination for migrants deported from the United States, following reports that the Trump administration has expanded its controversial immigration crackdown to include the East African nation. According to internal U.S. government documents obtained by CBS News, Uganda has agreed in principle to accept deportees from America even if they are not Ugandan citizens provided they have no criminal records.
The arrangement, still unclear in scale, would make Uganda part of a growing list of countries participating in Washington’s “safe third country” agreements. Under this provision of U.S. immigration law, asylum-seekers can be rerouted to other nations deemed capable of handling their humanitarian claims. The reports indicate that Honduras has also signed a similar deal, agreeing to take in several hundred deportees from Latin America over the next two years, with potential for expansion.
For Uganda, the development could carry significant social and political implications. The government has not publicly commented on the deal, and questions remain about how many migrants it might ultimately host and what measures will be in place to ensure their safety, integration, and legal status. Human rights groups are likely to scrutinize the agreement closely, warning that such policies often shift the humanitarian burden onto developing nations already grappling with their own challenges.
The Trump administration, meanwhile, has intensified efforts to secure similar commitments from at least a dozen other countries, including Ecuador and Spain, as part of a wider strategy to reduce the number of asylum-seekers arriving at the U.S. border. Officials argue that these agreements are necessary to curb illegal immigration and protect national security, but critics say they undermine international asylum protections and place vulnerable people at greater risk.
As negotiations continue, Uganda’s decision will be closely watched both domestically and internationally. With migration remaining a deeply divisive global issue, the outcome of this arrangement could influence how other countries respond to U.S. pressure and set the tone for future international cooperation or contention over immigration policy.
Takeaway:
If confirmed, Uganda’s participation in the U.S. deportation program could reshape not only its own migration policies but also the global debate on shared responsibility for asylum-seekers. The move raises urgent questions about fairness, capacity, and human rights questions that will demand clear answers in the months ahead.