The US is striking deals with African nations—including Eswatini, Ghana, Uganda, and South Sudan—to accept and process third-country nationals deported from the United States. Eswatini, for instance, reportedly agreed to take up to 160 deportees in exchange for around €4.2 million earmarked for border and migration management capacity.

Critics, including Human Rights Watch, argue these agreements violate global law, specifically the principle of 'non-refoulement,' suggesting deporting people risks torture or abduction. Conversely, participating governments claim the deals offer needed resources—Ghana noted its discussions amid Washington raising tariffs and limiting visas—and structure their agreements narrowly, excluding minors or those with criminal records, as Uganda stated.

The weight of the discourse shows a stark split. On one side, powerful critiques warn these pacts are legally dubious mechanisms for deportation. On the other, the sheer volume of activity indicates that national governments view these agreements as tangible transactional gains worth the political risk.