By Panafrican.email News Team | December 20, 2024 | Immigration Policy

The return of mass deportation policies in the United States could have devastating effects on families, communities, and economies, both domestically and globally. The case of Goura Ndiaye, deported in 2017 during the Trump administration, underscores the human cost of such policies. After 20 years of living in the U.S., Goura—a business owner, father to three U.S.-born daughters, and active church member—was abruptly sent to Mauritania, a country where his life was at risk.

As President-elect Trump prepares to implement his renewed deportation agenda, millions of undocumented individuals face similar fates. Trump’s advisors claim these efforts will focus on those with criminal records, but the reality is far broader. The first wave of these policies demonstrated that many deportees, like Goura, had no criminal records and posed no threat to public safety.

The numbers tell a clear story. Of the approximately 13 million undocumented people in the U.S., over 90% have no criminal record. Studies consistently show that undocumented immigrants are less likely to be convicted of crimes compared to U.S.-born citizens. Furthermore, the majority of undocumented immigrants with offenses on record are guilty only of minor infractions, such as traffic violations or civil immigration issues.

Mass deportations undermine not only immigrant families but also the broader communities they enrich. Immigrants contribute to the U.S. economy as business owners, workers, and taxpayers. They are integral members of schools, churches, and neighborhoods. Deporting these individuals creates unnecessary trauma, destabilizes families, and fractures communities.

Beyond the U.S., such policies have ripple effects on African nations, including Liberia, Mauritania, and others, which often struggle to reintegrate deportees. Many of these individuals have lived abroad for decades and face significant challenges upon return, including lack of safety, resources, and connections.

As these policies unfold, the global community must advocate for fair and humane immigration practices that respect human rights and strengthen families and communities, rather than tearing them apart.