Trump Administration Expands Deportation Agreements with Uganda and Honduras

The Trump administration has solidified agreements with both Uganda and Honduras to accept deported immigrants, raising concerns about the safety and treatment of those sent to these countries. Reports indicate that Uganda will accept individuals deported from other African nations but will not take those with criminal backgrounds. This announcement follows a denial from a Ugandan official, only for the government to confirm the agreement later that day.

On the same front, Honduras is set to receive several hundred deportees, including families from Spanish-speaking countries. This arrangement seems designed to meet the deportation goals set forth by the administration, which aims to increase the number of deportees to 3,000 per day, as suggested by senior advisor Stephen Miller.

The countries entering these agreements have been identified by the U.S. State Department as having serious safety concerns. For instance, Uganda currently holds a Level 3 travel advisory, indicating that travelers should reconsider visiting due to ongoing violent crime and terrorist threats. The State Department’s 2024 Human Rights Practices report highlights severe human rights abuses in Uganda, including extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests.

Similarly, Honduras faces its own challenges, also under a Level 3 travel advisory. The advisory notes that the Honduran government declared a “State of Exception” in December 2022 to combat high rates of crime, allowing police to suspend constitutional rights across much of the country.

These agreements with Uganda and Honduras add to a growing list of nations willing to accept deportees from the United States. Earlier this month, Rwanda began accepting deportees, and Eswatini has been involved since July. Other nations like South Sudan have also participated in this controversial strategy meant to manage immigration.

The Supreme Court has given its blessing to these deportation arrangements, allowing the administration to move forward with its plans. Financial backing for this initiative has been bolstered by the funds available through Trump’s fiscal policies, enabling continued collaboration with several repressive countries that are prepared to accept deported individuals.

As these agreements unfold, concerns grow regarding the treatment of individuals seeking asylum who are sent to nations with documented human rights violations. The implications of these policies continue to raise ethical questions, leaving many to wonder what developments might arise in the coming months.