Donald Trump continues to dominate headlines with bold and controversial decisions. In his latest move, the U.S. President has imposed a new entry ban affecting citizens from 12 countries and is reportedly exploring plans to deport migrants to various regions — including the Balkans.
According to a Bloomberg report, the U.S. administration is pressuring Serbia and several neighboring countries to accept migrants who are being removed from American soil. This includes hundreds of thousands of individuals from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua, whose temporary legal status was revoked by the U.S. Supreme Court in May.
Notably, Bloomberg singles out Serbia by name — drawing attention to the Trump family’s planned real estate ventures in Belgrade, as well as previous visits by Donald Trump Jr.
However, legal experts caution that such a deportation scheme would require a formal bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Serbia — one that clearly defines legal protections for deportees, the role of institutions, and the overall framework of the deal.
“If such a plan were to be seriously considered, it would demand a carefully crafted legal agreement between the two countries,” said Jelena Ilić from the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights. “The protection of migrant rights and legal accountability would need to be explicitly outlined. Given the sensitivity of the issue, I’m not convinced it would be done properly.”
Skepticism is fueled by Serbia’s previous legal controversies, including the government’s attempt to hand over a key military site — the former General Staff headquarters — to Trump-affiliated developers.
While the U.S. State Department has not responded to Reuters’ requests for confirmation, Serbia’s Foreign Ministry has also remained silent.
Amid institutional silence, Trump continues his wave of executive orders. In a dramatic announcement last night, he expanded travel restrictions to citizens from 12 nations, including Iran, Myanmar, Haiti, Libya, and Yemen. Citizens from seven other countries, such as Cuba and Venezuela, now face partial entry bans.
“We don’t want them here. This is the 21st century, and we’ve witnessed attack after attack by terrorists who entered with foreign visas,” Trump stated. “Biden’s policies have allowed millions of illegals into our country. I’ve instructed the Secretary of State to identify high-risk regions and recommend restrictions.”
Human rights groups are condemning the move as discriminatory and inhumane. Human Rights Watch labeled the decision as “a policy rooted in xenophobia,” accusing the administration of targeting individuals based solely on nationality.
U.S. citizens, too, are voicing concerns.
“Many Americans have family in those countries. They won’t be able to visit them, and sending them back could be extremely dangerous,” one citizen told local media.
Trump’s crackdown is also drawing fire from journalists and academics, with new restrictions reportedly being considered for media organizations and universities.
