Just days before the White House meeting, eight migrants from countries including Cuba, Mexico, Laos, Myanmar, Sudan, and Vietnam were sent to South Sudan after exhausting legal options to remain in the U.S. The transfers were carried out despite the migrants’ lack of connection to the African nation, highlighting the administration’s broad interpretation of removal pathways.
U.S. Pushes for “Safe Transfer” Agreements
An internal State Department document reportedly shared with the African governments ahead of the meeting encouraged agreement on the “dignified, safe, and timely transfer” of third-country nationals from the United States. The document also stipulated that migrants should not be returned to their home countries until a final determination on their asylum status had been made.
The U.S. has not made the document public, and Reuters has not verified its full contents. However, officials noted that the plan was a significant focus of the White House discussions and is considered a central piece of the administration’s immigration agenda.
Shift Toward Trade and Strategic Partnerships
The administration framed the meeting as not only a means of immigration discussion but also a broader reorientation of American policy towards Africa. President Trump spoke of a turn towards trade-based alliances rather than aid-based diplomacy, framing the U.S. as a superior partner to other global actors, and in particular, China.
Senior White House officials like Massad Boulos, who handles African affairs, and immigration advisor Stephen Miller attended the meeting, which is indicative of the gravity of the debate in the administration’s foreign and domestic policy agendas.
Looking Ahead
As the Trump administration works to finalize new deportation arrangements, the global scope of its strategy is becoming clearer. Should any of the five African nations agree to the plan, it would mark a significant development in U.S. immigration enforcement by institutionalizing third-country relocations. Whether these countries will cooperate remains to be seen. However, the administration’s push signals an aggressive approach that will likely continue to shape immigration policy and international relations in the coming months.
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Resources:
- https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/trump-presses-african-leaders-take-deported-migrants-sources-say-2025-07-10/
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c23gz78v5jjo.amp
- https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-07-10/trump-presses-african-leaders-to-take-deported-migrants-sources-say
- https://thehill.com/policy/international/5394612-trump-third-country-agreements-africa/
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