DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — More than half of the 15 Latin Americans deported in April to Congo under the Trump administration's widely criticized crackdown on migrants have returned to their countries of origin, the Congolese government and one of their lawyers said Friday.
U.S. immigration judges have ruled they were likely to face persecution back home.
Congo is one of at least eight African nations with which the U.S. has struck third-country deportation deals.
Under a series of often-secret agreements, the Trump administration has deported thousands of people to nearly two dozen countries that are not their own, advocates say. Immigration lawyers said the administration uses deportations to third countries as a legal loophole to indirectly force asylum seekers back to their home countries.
Alma David, a U.S.-based attorney representing one of the 15 migrants, said eight deportees have returned to their home countries in recent weeks.
U.S. immigration judges have ruled they were likely to face persecution back home.
Congo is one of at least eight African nations with which the U.S. has struck third-country deportation deals.
Under a series of often-secret agreements, the Trump administration has deported thousands of people to nearly two dozen countries that are not their own, advocates say. Immigration lawyers said the administration uses deportations to third countries as a legal loophole to indirectly force asylum seekers back to their home countries.
Alma David, a U.S.-based attorney representing one of the 15 migrants, said eight deportees have returned to their home countries in recent weeks.
5 months ago
