- Trump’s Immigration Policy Targets Africa, Nigeria Rejects Deportee Deal
- Tuggar affirmed that Nigeria would not serve as a landing ground for deportees
- Liberian President, Joseph Boakai, acknowledged the conversation but insisted it was non binding
By Grateful Ogunjebe
United States President, Donald Trump, is drawing sharp criticism from African leaders and human rights groups over a controversial plan to deport migrants not to their countries of origin but to third party nations in Africa, with Nigeria taking the lead in rejecting the move.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Trump recently hosted a closed door meeting at his New Jersey residence with leaders from five African countries, Liberia, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon, where he proposed a sweeping immigration policy that would allow the US to send undocumented migrants and convicts to African nations, regardless of their nationality.
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The meeting was part of broader discussions on international cooperation, but sources say immigration took centre stage.
Insiders disclosed that eight deportees were recently flown to South Sudan, despite the fact that only one of them is South Sudanese.
The decision has raised legal and ethical concerns over forced relocations. Former US immigration adviser, Tom Homan, defended the action, saying it was a necessary security measure. “If there is a significant public threat… we’ll find a third, safe nation to send them to,” Homan said.
The proposal has drawn outrage across the African continent, with critics accusing the US of attempting to sidestep international protocols and dump unwanted migrants in vulnerable nations.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, swiftly dismissed the plan, affirming that Nigeria would not serve as a landing ground for deportees who are not its citizens. “We have enough of our own challenges to deal with. Accepting deportees who are not our nationals is out of the question,” Tuggar declared Thursday evening, underscoring Nigeria’s commitment to sovereignty and legal norms.
Although the Trump administration maintains the policy is voluntary and based on bilateral consent, reactions among African leaders suggest otherwise.
Liberian President, Joseph Boakai, acknowledged the conversation but insisted it was non binding. “They’re not forcing anybody. It’s just an open conversation on possible collaboration,” he told journalists.
Guinea Bissau’s President, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, similarly downplayed the immigration angle, saying it was not the central focus of their dialogue with Trump.
In South Sudan, where some of the deportees have reportedly been relocated, civil society groups have spoken out strongly against the move. Human rights activist, Edmund Yakani, condemned the development, insisting that South Sudan must not be used as a dumping site for foreign criminals. “South Sudan is not a dumping ground for criminals,” he said, warning that the policy could destabilise already fragile communities.
Although South Sudan’s government has remained silent on the issue, analysts believe that financial inducements or diplomatic concessions could be influencing the stance of certain countries. Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst with Control Risks, warned that such decisions may come at a steep cost. “With many African nations struggling economically, the temptation to accept such deals may grow. But it comes at the cost of dignity and sovereignty,” she said.
The controversial policy is also raising alarms among international legal experts and human rights groups, who argue that it may breach various UN conventions that prohibit forced transfers and arbitrary detention. Deporting individuals to countries where they have no legal status or familial ties raises red flags about their safety, rights and long term prospects.
Nigeria’s refusal to cooperate is being viewed as a bold diplomatic signal to the United States and a rallying cry for broader African solidarity. With Trump ramping up his tough on immigration campaign ahead of the November 2025 election, pressure is likely to increase on more African nations to take a stand, or strike a deal.
