Uganda Agrees to Take US Migrants

 

Uganda has reached a deal with the United States to take in migrants deported from the US. This was confirmed by Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, August 21, 2025, according to multiple news reports.

However, the agreement comes with specific conditions:

Uganda will only accept deported migrants who do not have criminal records.

Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted under the agreement.

Uganda has expressed a preference for individuals of African nationalities to be the ones transferred to Uganda under the agreement.

The agreement is a temporary arrangement for "third-country nationals who may not be granted asylum in the United States but are reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their countries of origin", according to Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The detailed modalities of how the agreement will be implemented are still being worked out.

Migrants deported from the US may be reluctant to return to their home countries due to a complex interplay of factors, including:

Fear of persecution or danger: Many migrants initially flee their home countries due to violence, conflict, political persecution, or threats from gangs or criminal organizations. Returning could put them back in the same dangerous situations they sought to escape.

Economic hardship and lack of opportunity: Home countries may offer limited economic prospects, high unemployment, and low wages, potentially worse than before they migrated. Deportation can further exacerbate these challenges, as many migrants return with little or no savings and have lost the ability to send remittances to their families.

Social stigma and discrimination: Returnees may face social stigma and discrimination in their home communities, sometimes being wrongly labeled as criminals or failures. This can make social reintegration and finding employment difficult.

Family separation and loss of social ties: Many migrants have formed families in the US, including US-born children or spouses, making forced return a separation from loved ones and a disruption of established social networks. This can cause significant emotional distress and impede a sense of belonging in their home country.

Psychological and emotional distress: The experience of deportation itself can be traumatic, compounding any prior trauma experienced in their home country or during the migration journey. The stress of starting over in a country that no longer feels like home, often combined with financial difficulties and social stigma, can contribute to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Limited support systems: Reintegration programs and support systems in home countries may be inadequate or poorly funded, leaving returnees with few resources to help them rebuild their lives.

It's worth noting that Ugandan officials have already stated that the agreement will be a temporary arrangement and will only apply to individuals who do not have criminal records and are not unaccompanied minors. They also expressed a preference for individuals of African nationalities to be transferred to Uganda under the agreement.