Guinea-Bissau’s President Responds to U.S. Deportation Policies
On Thursday, the president of Guinea-Bissau declared that the nation will only take back its own citizens who have been deported from the United States. He also made it clear that he would not entertain requests from the Trump administration to have Guinea-Bissau accept these individuals or to expedite the acceptance of deported migrants.
Umaro Siso Embaro, one of five West African leaders who spoke with Trump at the White House on Wednesday, mentioned that while immigration was discussed, Trump seemed particularly interested in having African nations agree to accept exiles.
“He talks about it, but he didn’t ask us to take immigrants back to our country, just to be clear,” Embaro remarked during an event at the Atlantic Council.
He further stated, “If they are citizens of Guinea-Bissau and illegal here, then, yes, if they wish to return, they can go home. But if they are from another country, why should we accept them? No, that doesn’t align with our policies.”
Reportedly, the State Department has reached out to each of the five leaders at the summit regarding accepting third-country immigrants whose native countries are hesitant or slow to take them back.
The meeting included presidents from Liberia, Senegal, Mauritania, Gabon, and Guinea-Bissau.
Trump highlighted his progress on establishing “safe third-party agreements.” It’s not entirely clear how these policies are framed by the administration, though the U.S. and Canada have a system where asylum seekers may be deported to countries considered safe.
At the luncheon, Stephen Miller, the deputy chief of staff known for his role in Trump’s deportation strategy, was present. The administration has reportedly deported nearly 200 Venezuelans to El Salvador, among other actions.
According to reports, the administration is looking for similar agreements with several countries, including Libya, Rwanda, and others.
Attempts to legally challenge deportations have not significantly hindered the Trump administration’s initiatives.
Both the White House and the State Department did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Embaro, who has forged a personal rapport with Trump, noted that they last met in Paris during a rededication event at Notre Dame Cathedral. “He extended his visit to Washington after that,” Embaro said.
Sharing his thoughts on Trump, Embaro added, “President Trump knows what he wants. He asked, ‘What can I offer you? What can you offer me?’ It feels like a partnership that benefits both sides, and that’s significant for me.”
