In a significant moment during Saturday’s packed town hall at Shoreline City Hall, Gambian Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Momodou Lamin Bah, confirmed that The Gambia will accept citizens deported from the United States once all legal avenues have been exhausted.
Speaking to hundreds of members of the Gambian Diaspora at an event organized by the Northwest Seattle Gambian Association, Ambassador Bah addressed rising fears of mass deportations.
“Most of the people being brought back have exhausted all legal processes,” the Ambassador stated. “There are no incentives right now for voluntary self-deportation, but when citizens are deported after following due process, The Gambia will accept them. That is our responsibility.”
Embassy Counselor Ousman Lowe reinforced the message: “We are doing our obligation as an embassy. We ensure all necessary processes are followed, and we are accepting Gambian citizens who have been deported from the US.”
Ambassador Bah revealed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a special task force to monitor the welfare of returning deportees and coordinate reintegration support upon arrival in Banjul.
“The government is providing support at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he assured the audience, urging calm and continued adherence to U.S. laws.
The disclosure drew audible relief, mixed with concern, from attendees, many of whom have family members with uncertain immigration status. Community leaders praised the embassy’s transparency while calling for expanded assistance programs for returnees.
The announcement marks the clearest public statement yet from Gambian officials on cooperation with potential U.S. deportation efforts under the Trump administration.
