Burundi has agreed to accept migrants deported from the United States under a policy involving so-called “third-country” deportations, officials announced on Tuesday. The agreement permits the East African nation to receive individuals who have no prior connection to Burundi, provided they are not accused of crimes or linked to terrorism, according to Nancy Ninette Mutoni, a spokesperson for President Évariste Ndayishimiye.

This development aligns Burundi with several other African countries participating in the US government’s broader approach to managing immigration under former President Donald Trump’s administration. The policy involves deporting migrants to countries where they may have no citizenship or previous residence, often leaving deportees in precarious situations. Critics, including immigrant advocates and some lawmakers, contend these arrangements circumvent legal protections that had allowed deportees to avoid removal from the US.

While precise details on the number of deportees Burundi will receive, the timing, or financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, Mutoni emphasized that preparations are underway to provide necessary housing, basic needs, and support for integration within local communities. She noted that those who choose to remain and contribute positively to Burundi’s development would be treated in accordance with national law, potentially including pathways to citizenship.

In the past, US deportations under this policy have involved flights carrying migrants to countries such as Rwanda and the Central African Republic. Sources indicated a planned flight from Louisiana with about 70 individuals destined for Burundi and neighboring states was previously scheduled but later canceled. Meanwhile, a US appeals court has maintained that third-country deportations may continue but stipulated that individuals subject to removal must have an opportunity to raise concerns regarding potential persecution or torture in the receiving country.

Burundi’s decision to accept these deportees reportedly aims to strengthen diplomatic ties with the United States while extending hospitality to those in need. The US Department of State had not commented on the arrangement at the time of reporting, and Burundi’s foreign ministry indicated that further details of the agreement remain unavailable.