WSJ: Trump pushes African leaders to accept deported migrants

Ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal, Washington has proposed that these countries accept migrants being deported from the United States, suggesting that such cooperation could bolster future trade negotiations, said sources familiar with the matter.

The U.S. has offered the African nations to facilitate the "dignified, safe, and timely transfer from the United States" of migrants whose home countries have either refused or delayed their repatriation, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Wall Street Journal.

A U.S. State Department official involved in the summit preparations told the outlet that the governments were informed their assistance in resolving the ongoing migration crisis would be "key to strengthening trade ties with the United States."

The official further noted that President Trump regards the deportation of undocumented migrants as one of his top policy priorities.

It remains unclear whether the African leaders have agreed to Washington’s proposal. Notably, the issue was not raised during the portion of the summit with President Trump that was open to the press, the WSJ reported.

By Khagan Isayev