The Trump administration has paid millions to at least five countries to take deportees from third countries, according to a new report.
They are Equatorial Guinea, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ghana and Rwanda, according to the Washington Post.
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen detailed that Equatorial Guinea has been paid $7.5 million to take third country deportees. She sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing worries about the agreement, noting that the country was ranked 173rd out of 180 on corruption on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
She also noted that senior government officials have been accused of being involved in human trafficking and other abuses. Moreover, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema has ruled for almost 50 years and has been accused of corruption and misappropriation of public funds. His son, the country’s vice president, also stands accused of similar crimes. It’s not clear how many deportees the country has taken.
Eswatini has received over $5 million and has so far accepted receiving up to 160 deportees. The outlet noted that a deal between the countries contemplates funds to relocate deportees and move them. The country’s spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli, acknowledged the agreement, saying the deportees will eventually be taken to their countries of origin. However, so far only one person has been returned.
The Post noted that at least 14 deportees remain in the country without charge or access to legal counsel. One of them conducted a hunger strike for a month to protest his conditions.
As for El Salvador, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration has paid about $6 million to the country to hold deported migrants. Most of them were taken to the country’s mega-prison earlier in the administration. All of them, Venezuelans, were sent back home in July in a deal negotiated by the three countries.
Rwanda, in turn, has received $7.5 million in a deal similar to Eswatini’s. The money, the deal says, can be used to “strengthen Rwanda’s border and migration management capacity, including relocation assistance and associated infrastructure necessary to administer such assistance.”
Ghana has agreed to take in at least 40 deportees from West Africa in exchange for fewer sanctions, tariffs and immigration restrictions. “We were approached by the U.S. to accept third-party nationals who were being removed from the U.S., and we agreed with them that West African nationals were acceptable,” said President John Mahama. “West Africa has a protocol of free movement. Any West African is welcome in Ghana,” he added. At least 42 people have been taken to the country.
Originally published on Latin Times
