Trump's deportation plans get a lifeline from Africa's youngest nation, but with conditions

Business Insider

30-07-2025

Since returning to office in 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified efforts to expedite the deportation of undocumented migrants, reigniting diplomatic negotiations with countries across the Global South, including South Sudan, to facilitate repatriation agreements.
South Sudan has offered to accept US deportees, linked to demands including visa policy changes and economic measures.
The Trump administration is yet to respond to South Sudan's set of demands in facilitating migration discussions.
The U.S. has implemented third-country deportations, sending migrants to nations without prior ties, receiving criticism for this policy.
One of the latest developments involves South Sudan—Africa's youngest nation—which has expressed a conditional willingness to accept deportees from the United States.
According to diplomatic sources cited by Politico, South Sudan has informed the Trump administration that it would consider taking in more migrants if several demands are met.
These include the lifting of sweeping U.S. visa revocations against South Sudanese citizen imposed in April by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the reactivation of a frozen South Sudanese bank account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and U.S. backing for Juba's efforts to prosecute First Vice President Riek Machar, currently under house arrest.
The Trump administration has not yet agreed to any of the requests.
'South Sudan will continue to be an ally of the United States, support the policies of the United States, and especially the policies of the current president, His Excellency President Donald Trump, ' said Santino Dicken, South Sudan's ambassador to Washington, in an interview.
'But we also hope our partners in the administration understand that, for the government of South Sudan to freely convince its citizens [about deportation], we are asking the U.S. administration to lift visa restrictions on South Sudanese passport holders. '
Meanwhile, analysts note that South Sudan faces an uphill task in mending ties with Washington, following years of strained relations fueled by civil conflict, authoritarian backsliding, and widespread human rights abuses.
United states' third country deportations
The United States has intensified its use of third-country deportations, sending migrants not to their countries of origin but to nations with which they have no prior ties. Africa has become a key testing ground, with Washington striking opaque bilateral deals.
The policy drew sharp criticism when five inmates—labeled 'dangerous' by U.S. officials were deported to Eswatini after their home countries refused to accept them according to a statement by Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin.
Eswatini however, claimed the men were only in transit and would be returned to their countries once documentation was arranged.
Although many Americans support tougher immigration enforcement, a recent poll found that 58 percent oppose deportations to countries where migrants could face danger or have not received proper hearings.
Legal experts and human rights advocates warn the practice may violate U.S. due process and international law.
Nigeria, among the countries the U.S. has pressured, has pushed back.