Countries in the Balkan region are involved in contacts as part of a broader US strategy to deport undocumented immigrants, the State Department confirmed to Radio Free Europe (RFE) on June 6.
They declined to comment on Bloomberg’s claims that the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to persuade Balkan countries to accept deported migrants, mostly from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, whose temporary legal status in the US has been revoked.
The United States, they said, does not comment on the details of diplomatic communications with other countries as part of the strategy to deport undocumented immigrants.
When asked by RFE/RL which countries are included in the requests to accept migrants deemed undesirable in the US, the Embassy did not provide a precise answer. They said that the countries in the region are involved in contacts as part of a broader strategy.
“US partners and regional leaders are working closely with us to end the crisis of illegal and mass migration.”
They recalled that implementing the immigration policies of President Donald Trump’s administration is one of the top priorities of the State Department.
“Removing aliens with final removal orders from the United States and deporting illegal immigrants protects the United States from foreign terrorists and other threats to national security and public safety,” the response reads.
The State Department also states that continued cooperation with foreign governments is essential to deterring illegal and mass migration, as well as to secure the border.
“As Secretary Rubio said, we remain steadfastly committed to ending illegal and mass migration and strengthening the security of the United States’ borders. To that end, every country must urgently accept the return of its citizens who do not have a lawful basis to remain in the United States.”
In some cases, cooperation with other countries could be done to facilitate the removal of third-country nationals from the United States who do not have legal grounds to remain in the United States, they conclude.
The US Embassy in Podgorica previously made the same statement to Radio Free Europe.
The American Bloomberg reported that the Trump administration is trying to convince Serbia and other Balkan countries to accept migrants who have been deported from the United States.
The requests are reportedly part of the US administration’s strategy to seek partner governments to accept foreign nationals, mostly from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, whose temporary legal status in the United States has been revoked. This was made possible by the US Supreme Court in May.
Bloomberg states that regional offices of the State Department have been tasked with presenting this idea to potential partners. It is not known whether any agreements have been reached so far.
In April, the Wall Street Journal reported that Washington was considering the possibility of deporting migrants to Moldova, Kosovo and other Balkan countries, but Serbia and Montenegro were not mentioned at the time.
