New Central American Nation Signs Deal With Trump Admin To Receive Third-Country Deportees

The Central American nation of Belize has become the latest to sign an agreement with the Trump administration to receive third-country deportees.

The details of the deal have not been disclosed, but The Associated Press noted it is likely similar to the one signed with Paraguay, which included a "safe third country" deal in which asylum seekers in the U.S. could seek such protections there.

The Belize government confirmed the deal in a statement but clarified that it "retains an absolute veto over transfers, with restrictions on nationalities, a cap on transferees, and comprehensive security screenings." It also reiterated its "commitment to international law and humanitarian principles while ensuring strong national safeguards."

The State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs highlighted the agreement in a social media post, saying it was an "important milestone in ending illegal immigration, shutting down abuse of our nation's asylum system, and reinforcing our shared commitment to tackling challenges in our hemisphere together."

The Trump administration has been reaching similar agreements with other countries in Central and South America and Africa. In the latter continent, countries accepting deportees are Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda.

Ghana was the latest one to do so,, with President John Mahama confirming last month that 14 West African nationals deported from the U.S. had arrived in the country.

"We agreed with Washington that West African nationals were acceptable because all our fellow West African nationals don't need a visa to come to our country," Mahama said, according to The Associated Press.

In South America, Ecuador is also set to to receive hundreds of U.S. deportees from third countries who have refugee status as long as they have not committed crimes and have no health issues.

"It will be a limited program that applies only to refugees of certain nationalities who have no criminal background and who meet certain conditions such as being in good health," said Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld. Overall, the country could receive 300 migrants a year.

In August, the Trump administration struck a deal with Honduras to send deportees from third countries. Concretely, it accepted to receive a few hundred deportees over a two-year period, but it opened the door to taking in more.