
Burundi agrees to receive âÂÂthird-countryâ migrant deportees from US
Burundi joins several other African nations in accepting people deported under TrumpâÂÂs hardline policy
Burundi has agreed to join a clutch of â other African nations in receiving migrants from other countries deported from the US under â Donald TrumpâÂÂs hardline â immigration âÂÂpolicy.
However, the authorities in Bujumbura, the countryâÂÂs economic capital, said Burundi will only accept those not accused of crime or terrorism links, said â Nancy Ninette Mutoni, a spokesperson for the countryâÂÂs president, ÃÂvariste Ndayishimiye. TuesdayâÂÂs announcement gave no details of numbers, timing or financial â details.
Washington has sent so-called âÂÂthird-country deporteesâ to some half âÂÂa dozen African nations âÂÂas well as many other countries, often where they have no ties, have never been and find themselves detained indefinitely, under opaque deals âÂÂthat Senate Democrats say have cost tens of millions of âÂÂdollars.
In many cases, deportees had secured legal protections from immigration courts in the US against repatriation. But rights groups say the third-country deals allow the US to circumvent those protections.
Mutoni said preparations were underway to arrange accommodation, âÂÂliving conditions and integration into local communities in Burundi. âÂÂReceiving them requires serious planning â where they will stay, what they âÂÂwill eat and how they will live alongside the local population,â she said.
âÂÂIf they choose to join Burundian citizens and make a valuable contribution to national development, the law â will be respected,â she said, regarding potential citizenship.
Burundi aimed âÂÂto both âÂÂstrengthen diplomatic relations and provide âÂÂhospitality to people in need, the spokesperson âÂÂadded.
The US âÂÂstate department âÂÂdid not âÂÂimmediately respond to requests for comment while a spokesperson for the Burundi foreign ministry said details of the agreement were not yet available.
