The Dean of the Faculty of Security and Protection at the Independent University of Banja Luka, Slobodan Župljanin, has stated that the deportation of Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens from the United States represents a serious challenge and a potential security threat.
Župljanin emphasized that the announced deportation of BiH citizens from the US demonstrates the country’s failure to monitor who leaves its territory and track individuals who illegally entered other countries.
He supports Republika Srpska’s stance that such individuals should not be accepted or placed in prisons within Srpska, while highlighting concerns over the fact that nearly 180 individuals are being deported.
“These individuals have caused certain problems in other countries, whether by committing crimes or by entering illegally, which in itself is an offense,” said Župljanin.
He also noted that this is not the first time BiH has faced such issues, as the US had previously urged authorities to address the matter, but BiH authorities failed to act in time.
“Unfortunately, BiH had ‘more pressing’ concerns, and they neglected this issue. Now, they are faced with a situation where a significant number of individuals must be accepted within a short period,” Župljanin stated.
He underlined that this matter requires serious coordination between multiple government institutions, primarily the Ministry of Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees within the Council of Ministers. Their coordinated efforts should ensure full control over those being deported to BiH.
However, Župljanin expressed doubts about whether full control would be established over the deported individuals, drawing a parallel to the return of fighters from foreign battlefields and the inadequate monitoring of their activities upon their return.
He further pointed out that Federation of BiH’s policies had previously relied heavily on US support, but that the US is now taking a different approach, prioritizing its own interests while showing less concern for BiH and FBiH.
“The US prioritizes its own interests, and the situation in BiH and FBiH is becoming less relevant to them,” Župljanin concluded.
Earlier, BiH Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković stated that the Embassy of BiH in Washington issued travel documents for six BiH citizens who will be deported from the US, some of whom have criminal records.
He also confirmed that up to 170 individuals could be deported, calling this announcement “deeply concerning.”
Sarajevo-based media have reported that Jemal Pujagić, Aladin Muminović, Siniša Elkaz, Muho Ahmetović, Denis Kljunić, and El Shaer Hani are among those set to be deported from US prisons to BiH.
Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik has firmly rejected the possibility of placing radical Islamists deported from the US into prisons in Republika Srpska.
The decision on mass deportations is part of the fulfillment of one of US President Donald Trump’s key election promises.
Source: RTRS
