Sierra Leone accepts West African migrants deported from US
Sierra Leone has received nine West African migrants expelled from the United States under President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. The deportees, from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, and Senegal, arrived at the international airport near Freetown. Authorities and health officials reported that the group showed signs of trauma from their detention in the US. Most of the deportees expressed a desire to return to their home countries.
What we know
- Sierra Leone agreed to accept up to 300 people a year expelled by the US, but only from ECOWAS member states.
- The first group of nine deportees included seven men and two women, who were escorted from the airport by police.
- The United States is providing $1.5 million to support the programme, covering humanitarian and operational costs.
- The deportees will be housed in a hotel and are expected to return to their countries within two weeks.
- Human Rights Watch has criticized these arrangements, calling them “opaque deals” that violate international human rights law.
