The United States will send illegal immigrants to Uganda

Uganda has announced an agreement with the United States to receive illegal immigrants who are unable to obtain asylum in U.S. territory but who also do not wish to return to their countries of origin.

This was confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uganda this Thursday, clarifying that the agreement is still being defined and that only individuals without criminal records and who are not unaccompanied minors will be accepted. 

This agreement is part of a strategy promoted by President Donald Trump, who, since his return to the White House in January, has intensified efforts to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. The policy includes the increase in deportations of illegal immigrants to third countries. 

The details of the agreement. 

Uganda hosts approximately 1.7 million refugees, the largest refugee population in Africa, according to United Nations data. The country is recognized for maintaining an open-door and progressive asylum policy, allowing refugees to access public services such as health and education, and even granting them rights to work and settle.

The Ugandan government prefers to receive individuals from African countries, and not from other regions of the world. Although it is not confirmed whether the agreement has been officially signed, the ministerial statement indicates that it has already been "concluded".

Since Trump returned to the White House, his administration has established dialogue with countries willing to receive rejected individuals or those with criminal records. Countries such as South Sudan, Eswatini, and now Uganda have been part of these agreements.

The Ugandan government, divided on this decision. 

The decision has raised questions within the Ugandan government itself. One day before the official announcement, a senior official categorically denied reports about the agreement to receive deportees from the United States, arguing that Uganda doesn't have the necessary facilities to accommodate these individuals.

Foreign Minister Henry Okello Oryem stated that although Uganda has a humanitarian policy toward refugees, "there are limits". He strongly criticized the possibility of accepting individuals linked to drug cartels, questioning how they could be integrated into local communities.

In July, the United States deported five individuals to Eswatini and eight more to South Sudan. In addition, hundreds of members of Venezuelan gangs were sent to El Salvador, where they are being detained in prison conditions before being returned to Venezuela.