9 deportees from US arrive in Sierra Leone under third-country agreement

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9 deportees from US arrive in Sierra Leone under third-country agreement

2026-05-21 03:18 Last Updated At：03:30

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — Nine migrants deported from the United States landed in Sierra Leone on Wednesday, the West African country said, in the latest example of the Trump administration's widely criticized deals with African and Latin American nations to take third-country deportees.

Five migrants are from Ghana, two from Guinea, one from Senegal and one from Nigeria, the ministry of information said. The deals have raised questions about respect for the migrants’ rights.

The ministry's statement said the new arrivals “have been checked into their hosting facilities, are comfortable and receiving the necessary support.” It said 24 deportees were initially expected but didn't provide details.

Alma David, an immigration lawyer with the U.S.-based Novo Legal Group who has helped deportees, said the lower number might be explained by the fact that several deportations were halted shortly before the flight left the United States.

According to court documents seen by The Associated Press, a U.S. federal judge halted a woman's deportation to Sierra Leone after the government failed to let her seek protection under the Convention Against Torture, as required by law.

Sierra Leone’s foreign minister, Timothy Kabba, told local media Wednesday the government has agreed to temporarily receive migrants deported by the Trump administration, saying it only accepts West African nationals and the agreement is supported by a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. government.

The ministry of information said in a Facebook post Monday that Kenvah Solutions, ⁠a private contractor, was hired to handle the deportees housing, food and healthcare.

It said deportees are expected to be sent home or transferred within 14 days, or up to 30 days in exceptional cases.

The program is capped at 25 deportees per month and 300 per year, according to the ministry. It did not specify the duration of the arrangement.

The U.S. has struck third-country deportation deals with at least eight other African nations, many among countries hit hardest by the Trump administration’s policies restricting trade, aid and migration. The other African nations known to sign deals are Congo, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Eswatini, Ghana and Cameroon.

Several have notoriously repressive governments and poor human rights records including Eswatini, South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea.

Some of the countries have received millions of dollars in return, according to documents released by the State Department. Details of most agreements have not been made public.

Lawyers and activists have raised questions over the nature of the deals with countries in Africa and elsewhere. Some countries in Latin America, including Costa Rica,Dominican Republic and Honduras, have signed similar agreements to accept third-country deportees.

Last week, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to bring a Colombian woman back to the U.S. from Congo after she was deported there even though it had refused to accept her because it could not care for her medical needs.

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Banchereau reported from Dakar, Senegal.

US beats Germany 4-3 in shootout at ice hockey worlds, Switzerland and Sweden win big

ZURICH (AP) — Ryan Leonard scored the decisive penalty for the United States in a 4-3 shootout win over Germany at the ice hockey world championship on Wednesday.

Tommy Novak tied it at 3-3 for the U.S. with 5:47 left in regulation after Germany goaltender Philipp Grubauer was unable to hold onto the puck.

The defending champion Americans recovered from a 6-2 loss to Finland on Monday for their second win from four games and have five points in Group A in Zurich.

The Germans earned their first point.

Isaac Howard and Max Sasson also scored for the U.S. and goaltender Devin Cooley allowed one goal in the shootout.

Germany took an early lead when captain Moritz Seider scored one minute into the game. Howard tied it at 1-1 before the end of the first and Sasson's goal put the Americans ahead early in the second period.

Still in the second, the Germans rallied with Frederik Tiffels' tying goal and Marc Michaelis' go-ahead tally less than three minutes later.

Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, who arrived at Zurich on Tuesday, played his first career game at the worlds. The two-time Stanley Cup winner and Olympic champion failed to convert his penalty shot.

The U.S. plays Latvia on Saturday.

Switzerland routed Austria 9-0 to keep a perfect record.

Theo Rochette, Nico Hischier and Damien Riat each scored two goals as the Swiss won their fourth straight game to lead Group A in Zurich with 12 points.

Sven Andrighetto had three assists and Leonardo Genoni stopped 20 shots.

After finishing runner-up the previous two years, host Switzerland hopes for more in front of the home supporters.

Austria remains on nine points after its first loss.

In Group B in Fribourg, Czechia rallied late to edge winless Italy 3-1.

Nicholas Saracino put Italy in front 1-0 in the second period — for only the second goal by Italy at the worlds.

Early in the third, Marek Alscher tied it at 1-1 and Jakub Flek scored the eventual winner with 8:55 left. Dominik Kubalík added an empty-netter.

The Czechs, atop their group with 10 points, outshot Italy 58-15.

In another game in Fribourg, Raymond Lucas and Jacob de la Rose each scored two goals in Sweden's 6-0 win over Slovenia. Robert Hagg and Mattias Ekholm also scored.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports