Bahamas rejects Trump’s proposal to take in deported immigrants
Americas, News, US December 7, 2024 No Comments on Bahamas rejects Trump’s proposal to take in deported immigrants4 minute read
The Bahamas has firmly rejected a proposal from the transition team of United States President-elect Donald Trump to accept migrants from other countries who may be deported under his administration’s revived hardline immigration agenda.
A statement issued by the Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis’s office said, “The scheme to have the Bahamas accept deportation flights was reviewed and firmly rejected.”
This decision underscores the challenges facing Trump’s ambitious deportation plans, which have drawn criticism from human rights advocates and raised significant logistical and legal questions. Trump has vowed to execute mass deportations as part of his immigration crackdown, a key promise during his presidential campaign.
Trump’s mass deportation ambitions
As of 2022, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimates there are about 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States. Trump’s transition team has reportedly been exploring ways to deport large numbers of these individuals, including targeting migrants from third countries whose home nations may resist accepting deportees.
Some sources have reported that Trump’s team is compiling a list of countries to receive deportees if their countries of origin refuse to cooperate. Among the countries are the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Panama, and Grenada.
However, the Bahamas, a country with fewer than 400,000 residents, has rejected the notion of acting as a repository for deported migrants. The country’s refusal signals the significant diplomatic hurdles Trump may face in executing mass deportations.
The Trump administration previously attempted to impose similar agreements during its first term. In 2019, the Trump-led U.S. government signed a deal with Guatemala requiring asylum seekers passing through the country en route to the U.S. to seek refuge there first. This “safe third country” policy enabled deportations of asylum seekers from countries like Honduras and El Salvador to Guatemala.
Whether such agreements could be replicated under Trump’s second term remains uncertain. Countries like Mexico have already expressed resistance to serving as third-country destinations for deportees.
During a recent news conference, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized that Mexico would prioritize its citizens over third-country migrants in any deportation agreements. “We hope to reach an agreement with the Trump administration so that, in case these [massive] deportations happen, they send people from other countries directly to their countries of origin,” Sheinbaum said.
Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico’s solidarity with migrants but stressed, “Our main purpose is to receive Mexicans.”
Trump’s immigration policies are also closely tied to his broader trade and foreign policy agendas. Last month, he threatened to impose 25-percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada to curb the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. While Canada has committed to enhancing border security, Mexico has intensified its crackdown on illegal migration and recently reported its largest fentanyl seizure in history.
Despite these measures, Mexico and other countries in the Americas appear hesitant to accommodate third-country deportees. This resistance highlights the diplomatic complexities Trump will face in securing cooperation for his mass deportation plans.
Human rights concerns
The proposed deportation plans have sparked a significant backlash from human rights advocacy groups. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California recently filed a lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to obtain records on the agency’s deportation flight plans. The ACLU alleges that Trump’s mass deportation agenda could create widespread fear and disrupt immigrant communities.
“Little is known about how President-elect Trump would carry out its mass deportation agenda, but what we do know is that this proposal has already instilled fear among immigrant communities,” said Eva Bitran, director of immigrants’ rights at the ACLU chapter.
Bitran emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, “The public has a right to know how its taxpayer dollars could be used to fund deportation flights that would tear apart not only families but also our communities.”
Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown will likely test the limits of presidential authority and international relations. Critics argue that mass deportation is impractical, given the legal and logistical challenges involved, as well as the resistance from countries like the Bahamas and Mexico.
For now, Prime Minister Philip Davis’s firm rejection of the deportation scheme reflects the significant obstacles Trump’s administration will face in turning its hardline immigration policies into actionable strategies. As discussions around these plans evolve, they will likely remain a contentious issue domestically and internationally.
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