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How new US immigration policy will affect Uganda

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U.S. President Donald Trump signs documents as he issues executive orders and pardons for January 6 defendants in the Oval Office at the White House on Inauguration Day in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2025. PHOTO/REUTERS

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday welcomed the decision by United States President Donald Trump to crack down on illegal immigrants who have entered the United States without proper documentation. 

However, experts warn that this could lead to a decline in foreign direct investments from Ugandans living in the US Every year, thousands of Ugandans apply for visas to the US. According to statistics from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos), 5.9 percent of Ugandans relocated to North America in the last 10 years and the report did not clarify whether these individuals used the proper legal channels.

During the 47th inauguration on Monday, President Trump stated: “All illegal entry will be immediately halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.”

Speaking to this publication, Mr Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, the permanent secretary for the Foreign Affairs ministry, said Mr Trump’s decision on illegal immigration aligns with international best practices.

“All persons traveling to foreign countries must adhere to the rules and regulations of those countries,” Mr Bagiire said.

Prof Ahmed Hadji, a foreign policy analyst, said as of March last year, there were more than 15,000 Africans at the Mexico border attempting to enter America, including Ugandans, who were seeking opportunities but didn’t have clear documents. 

“They used to apply for asylum via the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) app, which allowed them to request asylum. By the end of December, more than a million people had entered the US using this app, with Mexico as the primary entry point,” Prof Hadji explained.

Adding: “Many Ugandans view America as a land of opportunity. Once there, they earn income and send remittances back home to cover school fees, medical bills, and other expenses. 

These remittances are critical for driving economic growth and development in Uganda. 

However, the President’s new executive orders also redefine birthright citizenship,” Prof Hadji said.

He explained that Trump has signed several executive orders, including one to eliminate the CBP app, which was introduced during the Biden administration, and another order directs the Secretary of Defence through the Pentagon to deploy personnel and resources to curb illegal immigration. According to him, all these executive orders have an impact on migrants.

“If the US denies legal access or deports significant numbers of immigrants, Uganda stands to lose not only remittances but also the skills and knowledge contributed by these professionals. Under the new order, asylum applications can only begin in Mexico; individuals cannot enter the US and then apply for asylum,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Mr Ramathan Ggoobi, speaking at the Uganda Media Centre yesterday, revealed that the government had registered a 25 percent growth in foreign direct investments, amounting to $799.46 million in the first quarter of the financial year 2024/2025, compared to the previous financial year

The shadow minister for foreign affairs and Member of Parliament for Kyadondo East, Mr Muwada Nkunyingi, said many illegal immigrants are victims of oppression in their home countries, urging Uganda’s embassies in the US to negotiate diplomatic agreements on behalf of Ugandan nationals.

“When parts of the world remain unsafe under oppressive leaders and policies, America will continue to face an influx of immigrants at its borders,” Mr Nkunyingi said.