The United States is being accused of using visa restrictions and financial incentives to pressure African countries into accepting deported migrants from third countries.

According to AFP, two former State Department officials said the strategy forms part of Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Migrants from countries including Cambodia, Cuba, Colombia and Nigeria have reportedly been sent to African countries where they have no family, citizenship or clear legal status.

Lawyers say some deportees have been left in a “legal black hole”, held without charge or dumped across borders without proper documents.

The White House did not respond to AFP’s allegations.

The State Department said implementing the Trump administration’s immigration policies remained a top priority.

Africa becomes deportation route

AFP reported that Africa has become part of a second wave of Trump’s third-country deportation plan.

The first wave focused on Central and South America.

Two-thirds of the 39 countries hit by full or partial US travel bans are in Africa.

Human Rights Watch said Eswatini agreed to take 160 deportees in exchange for $5.1 million.

Rwanda reportedly reached a similar $7.5 million aid deal for 250 people.

US-based lawyer Tin Thanh Nguyen described the process as “modern-day human trafficking, through official channels”.

Deportees describe fear

Cambodian national Pheap Rom told AFP he did not understand why he was expelled to Africa.

He was sent to Eswatini and held in a high-security prison.

Other deportees were sent to Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.

Some had legal protection under the Convention Against Torture or other safeguards.

Lawyers said they were only told about their removal while already on the plane, often handcuffed and unable to contact attorneys.

Visa pressure questioned

Former officials told AFP that countries were given targets to avoid US visa restrictions.

One former official said accepting third-country deportees became the clearest way for countries to reduce pressure from Washington.

Burkina Faso refused to accept deportees and was later hit with a travel ban.

Democratic senators said African countries were being pressured with threats of tariffs, visa bans or aid cuts.

Rights lawyers argue the US is using African governments to carry out deportations it may not legally be allowed to complete itself.

They warn that migrants risk being sent from one country to another without real protection, due process or access to lawyers.