In a recent development, nineteen West African nationals deported by the United States to Ghana have been relocated to undisclosed locations, raising concerns over their safety and legal protections. Ana Dionne-Lanier, a lawyer representing one of the deportees, revealed to The Associated Press that the group arrived in Ghana on November 5 and were initially housed in a hotel. These individuals are shielded from deportation to their home countries due to the risk of torture, persecution, or inhumane treatment. However, their current whereabouts remain unknown, as neither their families nor legal representatives have been able to contact them. Dionne-Lanier disclosed that part of the group was transported by bus to an unidentified border location between last weekend and Monday, while a second group, including her client, was moved ‘under heavy armed guard’ from the hotel around Wednesday. The Ghanaian government has yet to comment on the situation. This incident is part of a broader U.S. deportation initiative under the Trump administration, which has established secretive agreements with several African nations, including Eswatini, Rwanda, and South Sudan, to send migrants to third countries. The program has faced significant criticism from human rights advocates, who argue that it violates international protections for asylum-seekers and lacks proper screening processes. In September, Ghanaian rights group Democracy Hub filed a lawsuit against the Ghanaian government, alleging that its agreement with the U.S. is unconstitutional and may breach conventions prohibiting the return of individuals to countries where they could face persecution. The U.S. Department of Justice has countered that it cannot control how another country treats deportees, asserting that Ghana has pledged not to return them to their home countries.
19 migrants deported by US to Ghana have been moved to an unknown location, lawyer says
