As President Donald Trump hosted leaders from five West African nations at the White House, his administration was simultaneously pushing for those countries to accept more deported migrants from the United States, according to an internal U.S. government document.
The proposal, aimed at nations that have historically resisted or delayed the repatriation of their nationals, was sent around the time of the high-level talks in Washington. Current and former U.S. officials confirmed that the initiative is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to accelerate deportations and tighten immigration enforcement.
The countries involved in the discussions reportedly included Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Ghana — all of whom had bilateral meetings with Trump focused on security cooperation and trade.
The push underscores the administration’s growing frustration with foreign governments that are seen as non-cooperative in taking back deported nationals. In recent years, the U.S. has threatened visa sanctions and other penalties to force compliance.
While the outcome of the specific proposal remains unclear, it reflects the Trump administration’s use of diplomatic leverage to achieve immigration objectives — a strategy that continues to shape U.S. foreign policy engagement with developing nations, especially in Africa.
