A U.S. federal judge has sharply criticized the Trump administration for deporting Nigerian and Gambian migrants to Ghana, warning that the move appears designed to sidestep American immigration laws.
Judge Tanya Chutkan, presiding in Washington D.C., convened an emergency hearing after lawyers argued that the deportees expected to be returned to their home countries — places where they risked torture or persecution. She ordered the administration to file a report by Saturday night outlining steps to prevent Ghana from transferring them further.
“These are not speculative concerns. The concerns are real enough that the United States government agrees they shouldn’t be sent back to their home country,” Chutkan cautioned, describing the arrangement as an “end run” around U.S. legal protections.
The deportations, part of President Donald Trump’s strategy to relocate migrants to third countries, have drawn lawsuits.
One complaint alleges detainees were shackled, flown to Ghana on a military aircraft, and in some cases strapped in straitjackets for 16 hours. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice are representing them.
In Ghana, the issue has sparked backlash. Opposition lawmakers insist the deal with Washington should have received parliamentary approval before any arrivals.
