DASH: Balkans, part of American strategy for expelling migrants

Countries in the Balkan region are included in contacts within a broader US strategy for the deportation of foreign nationals without regular status, the US State Department confirmed to Radio Free Europe.

He did not comment on reports by the American media outlet Bloomberg that the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to convince Balkan countries to accept deported migrants - mainly from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela - who have had their temporary legal status in the US revoked.

The United States, it is stated in response, does not comment on the details of diplomatic communication with other countries, within the framework of the strategy for the deportation of foreign citizens without regular status.

"American partners and regional leaders are working closely with us to end the crisis of illegal and mass migration," the US State Department stressed, adding that implementing the migration policy of President Trump's administration is one of his top priorities.

"The removal from the United States of aliens for whom final orders of removal exist, as well as the deportation of illegal immigrants, protects the United States from foreign terrorists and other threats to national security and public order," the response states.

The US State Department also emphasized that continued cooperation with foreign governments is key to preventing illegal and mass migration, as well as border security.

"As Secretary of State [Marco] Rubio has said, we remain committed to ending mass illegal migration and strengthening the security of America's borders. In this regard, every country must urgently accept the return of its citizens who have no legal basis to remain in the United States," the State Department stressed.

In some cases, the response also states, cooperation may be sought with other countries to facilitate the removal from the United States of third-country nationals who have no legal basis to remain in the United States.

What did Bloomberg report?

Reuters news agency, citing Bloomberg News, reported on June 5 that President Trump's administration is pressuring Serbia and other Balkan countries to accept migrants deported by the United States.

That same day, Radio Free Europe asked the Kosovo Government whether the US administration had also sent it such a request, but received no response.

In April, the Wall Street Journal also reported that Washington is considering the possibility of deporting migrants to Moldova, Kosovo and other Balkan countries./ REL/