The Bahamas announced on Thursday that it has rejected a proposal from the incoming Trump administration to accept deported migrants, as the next U.S. president aims to fulfill his immigration reduction promises.
Trump’s team has compiled a list of countries to which it aims to deport migrants whose home nations refuse to take them back. However, the Bahamas, an island nation in the Atlantic, stated that it had “reviewed and firmly rejected” the plan.
Prime Minister Philip Davis’s office confirmed that the government had received a proposal from the Trump transition team regarding deportation flights of migrants from other countries. “Since the Prime Minister’s rejection of this proposal, there has been no further engagement or discussions with the Trump transition team,” the statement said.
Other nations under consideration for these deportation flights reportedly include the Turks and Caicos, Panama, and Grenada, as stated by NBC sources. Trump’s presidential campaign was heavily focused on anti-immigrant rhetoric, including claims that migrants were responsible for a supposed crime wave and a promise to pursue mass deportations.
READ ALSO : Trump picks anti-‘deep state’ crusader Kash Patel to lead FBI
Trump’s team did not immediately comment on the Bahamas’ rejection, which sheds light on one element of his planned immigration overhaul. The deportation strategy could result in migrants being stranded in countries to which they have no ties, though it’s unclear whether they would be allowed to work or what pressure might be applied to persuade countries to accept them.
The U.S. has long struggled to control its southern border with Mexico, and during his campaign, Trump described the flow of migrants as an “invasion,” often demonizing immigrants with inflammatory rhetoric, such as claiming they would commit violent crimes. He has also vowed to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target migrant gangs and potentially deport foreigners from “enemy” countries. Trump has brought back hardline immigration official Tom Homan to oversee border security, a role he held during part of Trump’s first term.
Earlier this year, the UK dropped a controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda after the Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, ousted the Conservative government.
Credible News.ng
