Trump Urges African Leaders to Host U.S. Deportees

In a controversial move reflecting his administration’s tough stance on immigration, U.S. President Donald Trump has called on five African leaders to accept deported migrants from the United States, regardless of whether the individuals are citizens of their countries.

During a high-level meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Trump met with the presidents of Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Gabon to discuss the proposal, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

A U.S. State Department memo, reportedly circulated prior to the meeting, outlined a plan for these African nations to temporarily host third-country nationals deported from the U.S. while their asylum cases are being processed. The document stressed the importance of ensuring the “dignified, safe, and timely” transfer of these individuals.

Although no official statements have been released by the White House or the African governments, a U.S. official revealed that Liberia is preparing to house some of the deportees in Monrovia. However, it is not yet clear if President Joseph Boakai or any of the other African leaders have formally agreed to the request.

This move is part of Trump’s broader immigration strategy aimed at expediting deportations through “safe third country” partnerships, especially in cases where direct repatriation is not immediately possible. Just days before the meeting, eight migrants from Mexico, Cuba, Vietnam, and Sudan were deported to South Sudan following a failed legal attempt to halt their transfer.

During the meeting’s public session, Trump doubled down on his pledge to shift U.S. engagement in Africa from foreign aid to trade, claiming that the U.S. is a “better partner than China.” He also linked immigration enforcement with diplomatic relations, stressing the urgency of visa overstay issues and third-country agreements.

Joining Trump at the meeting were Massad Boulos, his senior adviser on African affairs, and Stephen Miller, known for his influence on the administration’s hardline immigration policies.