HARARE – Zimbabwe’s president Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed support for the United States government’s decision to deport 545 Zimbabweans who have been residing in the US illegally.
The move is part of the US government’s broader crackdown on undocumented migrants, with a total of 1,445,549 noncitizens listed for removal as of November 24, 2024.
Mnangagwa has supported the US decision, stating that, “The Government of Zimbabwe supports the United States Government’s decision to repatriate and return our Zimbabwean citizens who may have been residing in the US illegally.”
The Zimbabweans in question are among those listed on the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) non-detained docket with final orders of removal. They are joined by individuals from other countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, and several others.
According to ICE, the individuals on the non-detained docket have final orders of removal, but the agency is unable to provide a list of case-specific reasons why certain noncitizens cannot be removed.
Reasons for the delay in removals include the pursuit of relief or protection from removal, such as asylum or protection under the Convention Against Torture.
The US government believes that every country is obligated to accept the return of its citizens and nationals who are ineligible to remain in the US. Currently, ICE considers 15 countries to be uncooperative, while 11 countries are at risk of non-compliance.
“Currently, ICE considers 15 countries to be uncooperative: Bhutan, Burma, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Laos, Pakistan, People’s Republic of China, Russia, Somalia, and Venezuela.
“ICE considers 11 countries to be at risk of non-compliance: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Gabon, Gambia, Iraq, Jamaica, Nicaragua, South Sudan, St. Lucia, and Vietnam,” the Agency noted.
