The United States has begun deporting Gambian nationals to other West African countries, bypassing direct repatriation under a controversial ‘Third Country Agreement’. According to sources, Nigeria tops the list with 97 deportees, but Gambians are among those sent to Sierra Leone, which has agreed to accept 300 ECOWAS citizens annually.
The move has angered West African legal professionals, who argue that sending noncitizens to other African countries through ‘shady deals’ despite US court orders is illegal. The UN has also criticized the measures as ‘arbitrary, inhumane and unlawful’.
A list obtained by this publication names several Gambians deported for crimes including forgery, fraud, drug trafficking, and assault. Among them are Demba Bah, Muhamed Sissoho, and Dawda Drammeh. US officials maintain the policy is central to national security, citing that some deportees refused to return to their home country.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has yet to provide further details, with an official stating they are out of office. The full scale of Gambian deportees and their respective host countries remains unclear.
Article source: thepoint.gm | Image credit: Scripps News
