US deportations to African countries unlawful and exploit suffering

The United States has started sending detained migrants to African nations it has previously warned American citizens not to travel to, according to a Daylight San Diego report. The policy places individuals, including LGBTQ asylum seekers, in countries described as hostile and where they face potential persecution. Reuters reports that dozens of LGBT migrants have been forced onto what it calls hostile terrain, while the BBC characterizes the practice as exploiting suffering and violating legal norms.

The administration’s warnings to U.S. travelers are cited as justification for sending people to the same destinations it deems unsafe. Human Rights Watch and Truthout both argue the policy breaches international asylum obligations, yet neither outlet provides the specific African states involved or details on how the deportees will be monitored after arrival. Daylight San Diego notes the government’s travel advisories, but the reports do not clarify whether any legal challenges have been filed.

What remains unclear is how U.S. courts will address the alleged unlawfulness and what impact the expulsions will have on the migrants’ safety.