Fifteen people deported from the United States arrived in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), overnight Thursday. The deportees' arrival is part of an agreement between the U.S. and the DRC. The DRC Ministry of Communications stated earlier this month that it would temporarily accept migrants deported from the U.S.
A diplomatic source told the Anadolu news agency that the first group includes seven women and is made up of nationals from Peru and Ecuador. All of the deportees are from Latin America, according to U.S. lawyer Alma David, who represents one of them. An official at the DRC migration agency confirmed the arrivals, but did not provide further details.
Alma David told the AP that all the deportees are believed to have legal protection from U.S. judges shielding them against being returned to their home countries.
Washington will cover the costs involved in accommodating the migrants, according to the DRC Ministry of Communications. Facilities have been prepared near Kinshasa to house them. Countries have received lump sums ranging from $4.7 million to $7.5 million to receive deportees.
Reuters reported that the DRC was set to receive more than 30 deportees this week. Other migrants are expected to arrive in groups of about 50 a month, according to sources cited by AFP. The total number of migrants the DRC will accept is unknown. The AP has reported that 47 other third-country agreements are currently being negotiated with other nations. Other countries in Africa, including Ghana, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda, have also accepted migrants deported from the U.S.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that the DRC requested humanitarian assistance with the migrants. The IOM stated it may offer assisted voluntary return to those migrants who request it.
The U.S. policy has drawn criticism from rights groups over the legality of sending deportees to countries where they are not from and could face human rights violations.
Fifteen people deported from the United States arrived in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), overnight Thursday. The deportees' arrival is part of an agreement between the U.S. and the DRC. The DRC Ministry of Communications stated earlier this month that it would temporarily accept migrants deported from the U.S.
A diplomatic source told the Anadolu news agency that the first group includes seven women and is made up of nationals from Peru and Ecuador. All of the deportees are from Latin America, according to U.S. lawyer Alma David, who represents one of them. The Congolese government intends to keep them in the country for a short period, according to David. An official at the DRC migration agency confirmed the arrivals, but did not provide further details.
Alma David told the AP that all the deportees are believed to have legal protection from U.S. judges shielding them against being returned to their home countries. In some cases, deportees have been sent back to their home countries despite receiving legal protection from U.S. courts.
Washington will cover the costs involved in accommodating the migrants, according to the DRC Ministry of Communications. Facilities have been prepared near Kinshasa to house them. The Trump administration spent at least $40 million to deport about 300 migrants to third countries up to the end of January, according to a report compiled by Democrats on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Countries have received lump sums ranging from $4.7 million to $7.5 million to receive deportees.
Reuters reported that the DRC was set to receive more than 30 deportees this week. Other migrants are expected to arrive in groups of about 50 a month, according to sources cited by AFP. The total number of migrants the DRC will accept is unknown. The AP has reported that 47 other third-country agreements are currently being negotiated with other nations.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that the DRC requested humanitarian assistance with the migrants. The IOM stated it may offer assisted voluntary return to those migrants who request it.
The U.S. policy has drawn criticism from rights groups over the legality of sending deportees to countries where they are not from and could face human rights violations. Other countries in Africa, including Ghana, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda, have also accepted migrants deported from the U.S.
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