Deportees from the United States assert continued detention in Ghana, conflicting with assertions from Ghanaian authorities.
On September 6, a group of 14 immigrants was deported by the U.S. to Ghana, according to official reports. However, a week later, concerns have arisen regarding the whereabouts of some of these deportees.
Three of the deportees, Michael Sackey, Issah Al-Hassan, and Rashid Yacoub, claim they are still being held in Ghana, contradicting statements made by the Ghanaian government. Their lawyers, including Meredyth Yoon, Litigation Director at the Asian Americans Advancing Justice, have expressed concern for their safety due to potential threats.
One of the Nigerian deportees living in the U.S. for 12 years reported falling ill with malaria and other health issues due to poor conditions at the Bundase military camp in Ghana. Yoon stated that her clients fear the Ghanaian government may be withholding information about their presence in the country due to concerns about their safety.
The Trump administration's deportation program has faced widespread criticism for its rapid pace and potential disregard for the well-being of the deported immigrants. U.S. lawyers argued that the deportations to Ghana were an attempt to evade U.S. immigration laws that protect some of the men from being returned to their home countries where their well-being could be at risk.
Initially, the Ghanaian government stated that the 14 deportees were all Nigerian besides one Gambian. However, this claim has been contradicted by some of the deportees still in Ghana. At least 11 of these individuals are being held at the Bundase military camp. Two other deportees are believed to have been sent to their home country of Nigeria.
The exact reasons for the deportations remain unclear, as the deportees were not told by U.S. authorities why they were being deported. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, did not respond to a request for comment regarding the deportations.
The Trump administration's deportation program has faced criticism from human rights experts who question whether immigrants will be appropriately screened before being deported and cite international protections for asylum-seekers. This confusion surrounding the deportations reflects the rapid pace at which the Trump administration has moved on its immigration priorities.
As of now, 11 deportees remain in Ghana, including four Nigerians, three Togolese, two Malians, one each from Gambia, and one from Liberia. A Togolese deportee stated that he was not informed about the reasons for his deportation or his destination.
The situation is under scrutiny, with calls for transparency and assurance of the safety and well-being of the deportees. The Ghanaian government has yet to address these concerns publicly.
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