Trump, Immigration and the Question of Africa's Place in the World

By Micah Mukhwana Namunyu 

|Photo Courtesy of American Civil Liberties Union|

When Donald Trump speaks about immigrants, the world listens. He has been harsh on foreign students and on those who move illegally to America. Africans have been at the centre of this debate. Many see his stance as discriminatory and hostile. But if we go deeper into the legal and political issues, there is another side to it.

Immigration law and sovereignty

Every country has the right under international law to control who enters its borders. America, like any other state, sets the rules for visas, studies, work and citizenship. Trump uses that legal space to limit immigration, especially from Africa and other regions he calls problematic. His critics view it as racism. But in strict law, he is exercising sovereign power.

The tension arises when sovereignty collides with human rights. International law protects the right to seek asylum, the right to education and the right to family life. If a policy is too harsh, it can breach those rights. That is where Trump’s immigration approach faces challenge both at home in American courts and abroad in international forums.

Africa’s dependence on migration

For years, Africa has looked at the West as the only path for success. Families spend fortunes sending children to the United States and Europe. Many risk everything crossing seas and deserts. This has created a dangerous cycle of brain drain where Africa trains doctors, lawyers, engineers and teachers who later build the economies of the global North instead of their own.

Trump’s restrictions therefore force us to ask a painful but necessary question. Should Africa continue to rely on America for education and jobs, or should this be the turning point for us to build our own systems? His harshness might feel insulting, but it could also push us to stop outsourcing our future.

Cutting global health funding

Another controversial move under Trump has been cutting international funding, especially for health programmes in Africa. Many hospitals and NGOs depend on American aid for vaccines, HIV treatment and maternal health projects. When Trump slashes these budgets, it looks cruel.

Yet there is also a deeper debate about responsibility. Much of Africa’s health crisis has roots in colonialism, resource exploitation and unfair trade. The global North became rich through Africa’s suffering. In that light, aid is not charity. It is a form of repair, even a legal duty under the principle of state responsibility for wrongful acts. If the North withdraws funding, it raises the question whether they are abandoning obligations created by history.

Law, politics and payback

The truth is that law and politics cannot be separated here. Legally, Trump is within America’s right to decide how much money it gives abroad. Politically, his decisions feed into the feeling that America only values Africa when it suits its interests. This creates resentment but also sparks debate about self reliance.

I see his harshness as double edged. On one hand, it causes suffering in the short term. On the other hand, it forces Africa to stand on its own feet. Law scpeaks of sovereignty. Sovereignty is about independence. Independence is about survival without begging.

Africa’s way forward

Trump’s policies may feel hostile but they throw back the mirror to us. Why should our young people beg for visas? Why should our hospitals collapse without American aid? Why should our development depend on Washington’s mood?

The legal battles Trump faces in America show that even he is not above the law. Courts challenge his policies. Civil society pushes back. That is a reminder to Africa too. Our governments must be held to account by our own courts and our own people. We cannot keep blaming the North while doing little at home.

My take

Trump’s fight against immigration and funding cuts is not just about America. It is about us. It is about Africa’s place in the world. He may think he is closing the door, but maybe he is forcing us to build our own house. Law gives him the right to act. History gives us the right to demand repair. The future demands that we finally stop depending on others.