7 months ago
Ghana Forcibly Returns US Deported West Africans
The U.S. has been sending some immigrants who are not from the U.S. to Ghana instead of their home countries.
These immigrants had asked for protection in the U.S. because they were afraid of being hurt or treated badly in their home countries.
However, Ghana has been sending these immigrants back to their home countries, even though U.S. courts had said they should not be sent back.
This has caused a lot of worry and legal problems.
Some people say the U.S. is not following the rules meant to protect these immigrants, and Ghana is not giving them a chance to argue their case.
The U.S. says it is following the law, but many people are concerned about what is happening to these immigrants.
Ghana forcibly returned at least 22 West African migrants to their home countries despite U.S. court-ordered protection.
The U.S. deported over 30 third-country nationals to Ghana in 2023, part of a crackdown on unauthorized immigration.
Migrant advocates and human rights groups criticize the practice, saying it circumvents laws prohibiting refoulement.
Ghana's actions appear systematic, with no opportunities for deportees to raise legal objections before being sent home.
The U.S. State Department and Ghana's government have not publicly addressed the concerns raised by the repatriations.
- Who
- Rabbiatu Kuyateh and other West African migrants deported by the U.S. to Ghana
- What
- Ghana forcibly returned U.S. deportees to their home countries despite court-ordered protection in the U.S.
- Where
- United States, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, and other West African countries
- When
- Events occurred in 2023 and 2024, with specific incidents in July, September, and November
- Why
- U.S. uses third-country removals to expedite deportations, Ghana's actions raise concerns about human rights and legal protections
Key facts
- Number of deportees to Ghana
- 30+
- Number of deportees sent home by Ghana
- 22
- Countries involved in repatriations
- Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo
- U.S. payment to Equatorial Guinea
- $7.5 million
- Ghana's stance on compensation
- No financial compensation, humanitarian principles
- U.S. visa and tariff changes
- Eased visa restrictions, lifted 15% tariff on cocoa and agricultural products
- Legal protection granted in U.S.
- Withholding of removal, protection based on political views, sexual orientation, or risk of female genital mutilation
- Criticism of the arrangement
- Criticized for circumventing legal requirements to protect migrants from danger
Quotes
Rabbiatu Kuyateh
A 58-year-old woman detained by U.S. immigration agents and deported to Ghana.
“I consider America as my second home. My whole family is there.”
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“I’m not going!”
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Tricia McLaughlin
Spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“We are applying the law as written. If a judge finds an illegal alien has no right to be in this country, we are going to remove them.”
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“Once an illegal alien is in another country’s custody, we refer you to them for questions.”
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Elora Mukherjee
Director of the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at Columbia Law School in New York.
“If Ghana and Equatorial Guinea do not afford a meaningful opportunity to challenge repatriation, they are not safe third countries, and the United States should not be deporting individuals there. Third countries cannot be used to circumvent the prohibition on refoulement.”
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Felix Kwakye Ofosu
Presidential spokesperson for Ghana.
“As and when they come, they are processed and sent to their countries of origin.”
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Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Foreign Minister of Ghana.
“American officials had raised the possibility of concessions on visas and tariffs in exchange for help with immigration challenges.”
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Diadie Camara
A 27-year-old man detained at the U.S.-Mexico border and deported to Mauritania.
“I am now in hiding, and I don’t know what to do.”
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