Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has voiced support for the United States’ decision to deport undocumented immigrants, including Zimbabwean nationals. According to official figures, nearly 550 Zimbabweans face deportation.
“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,” Mnangagwa stated on X.
On January 22, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was given expanded authority to arrest irregular migrants in or near sensitive locations, such as churches, hospitals, and schools. The Trump administration has already begun deportation flights, sending undocumented immigrants back to their home countries, including Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, India, and Venezuela.
Authorities have intensified immigration raids across states such as Arizona, California, Texas, New York, and Colorado. Since Trump took office, ICE reports that more than 5,000 undocumented migrants have been detained.
An ICE report released late last year stated that 545 Zimbabwean nationals are awaiting deportation orders. The US government has urged foreign nations to cooperate in verifying the citizenship of undocumented individuals suspected of being their nationals.
A recent legislative development, the Laken Riley Act, grants border agents the authority to detain migrants involved in crimes without requiring a court order. Additionally, Trump has ordered preparations for a facility at Guantanamo Bay to house up to 30,000 undocumented migrants.
The administration’s immigration crackdown has sparked protests, with thousands gathering in Los Angeles to oppose the policies, including deportation raids and stricter border controls.