1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am deeply troubled by the recent revelation that $7.5 million of U.S. taxpayer money has been sent to Equatorial Guinea's government in exchange for accepting deportees from our country. This deal, part of the Trump administration's third-country deportation initiative, raises serious ethical and fiscal concerns that demand immediate attention and action. The use of funds originally intended for international refugee crises to facilitate deportations is a gross misappropriation of resources. It's particularly alarming that this money is being funneled to one of the world's most repressive and corrupt regimes. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has held power for 46 years, and his son stand accused of embezzling millions from their own nation. By engaging with such a government, we risk becoming complicit in human rights abuses and further entrenching corruption. Senator Jeanne Shaheen has rightly raised concerns about the responsible use of taxpayer dollars and potential human rights violations. These concerns are amplified by the fact that many countries involved in similar deportation agreements have records of serious human rights abuses. The relatively secretive nature of this deal, compared to other deportation agreements, only adds to the suspicion surrounding its ethics and legality. I urge you to take immediate action to halt this practice and launch a thorough investigation into the use of Migration and Refugee Assistance funds for deportation purposes. We need transparency in these dealings and assurance that our nation's resources are being used to uphold our values, not undermine them. Furthermore, I request that you work towards reinstating the original purpose of these funds - to address genuine humanitarian crises and support refugees in need. The integrity of our nation's foreign policy and our commitment to human rights are at stake. We cannot allow short-term political goals to compromise our long-standing principles and international reputation. I implore you to act swiftly to rectify this situation and ensure that our nation's resources are used responsibly and ethically in our immigration practices.