US President Donald Trump’s new approach to “clean up America” is forcing other nations to reassess their own policies—refugee issues being one bitter truth that urgently require attention. The sweeping measures by Trump mark a clear return to protectionist trade policies and humanitarian policies igniting debates among economists, UN agencies and trading partners alike.

As the global community reacts to America’s inward turn, the long-term implications of these aggressive policy shifts remain uncertain for many countries. Trump also ‘pulled the trigger’ on undocumented immigrants on the US soil that sparked tension for many countries. He said either take them or face the consequences. India received illegal immigrants who were sent back chained. The US has been deporting undocumented immigrants—including those who have applied for asylum—as the immigration system grinds to a halt.

Those who have applied for asylum in the US—many of whom have established American families with children born on US soil—now face a harsh new reality. President Trump has decided to cancel all pending asylum applications, including those for individuals whose children were born in America, and to deport these applicants.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said that the deportation efforts are often hindered by foreign governments that fail to cooperate in the repatriation process. The ‘repatriation’ process for illegal Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi immigrants from the US is also ‘underway’.

Shifting to other regional powers

As President Trump has embarked on a series of bold policy moves aimed at reshaping both America’s domestic and international agendas many countries are thinking to align with their regional partners and looking at the Global South in other words, to bolstering their own economic and territorial autonomy rather than relying on external dependencies.

In this shifting landscape, major players like India and China are well-positioned to benefit from evolving dynamics, yet they face significant challenges due to their own domestic affairs. As nations increasingly prioritize self-reliance, traditional frameworks of international trade and diplomacy are being tested.

If South Asian countries are to align with India’s growing influence, they must prioritise more than before on the economic integration, regional security cooperation, and strategic autonomy in a multipolar world.

COVID-19 triggered the self-reliance strategy

The COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point for many countries, prompting them to look inward. Nations such as the US, Japan, China, India, and the United Kingdom were severely impacted, leading even the most powerful global players to scale back extensive international engagements. This shift pushed governments to prioritize safeguarding their own welfare over relying on external support. Trump, the top US businessman entry was a consequence of these mounting challenges in the US. The global trend amid health crises and economic challenges, nations were re-evaluating their external commitments and investing more in domestic affairs. Industries and agricultural sectors were boosted for food security.

Migration process slowed down tremendously

 The pandemic not only disrupted economies and international travel but also forced nations to tighten migration policies. With borders closed or heavily regulated, migration slowed, and the United Nations Refugee Agency reported significant reductions in refugee intake. Today, with the shutdown of USAID and other humanitarian programmes, the refugee population is bearing the brunt—finding it increasingly difficult to secure resettlement in a third country.

The Rohingya community in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh—now numbering over one million—is more helpless than ever. Some Rohingya who arrived by boat in Sri Lanka from Myanmar remain stranded. The Sri Lankan government has yet to issue any official announcement regarding these arrivals and appears to be considering deporting them back to Myanmar.

Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency has urged the Sri Lankan government to assume responsibility for the 119 Myanmar Rohingya arrived in December 2024 in its custody. However, Sri Lankan authorities continue to label them as illegal immigrants and criminals rather than recognising them as refugees fleeing persecution under Myanmar’s junta regime.

Trump has ‘spared’ the Rohingya population in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, promising to continue assisting them by keeping them within humanitarian aid facilities. This was the worst fear Bangladesh had.

In the long run, however, every country will have to take serious responsibility for its own domestic affairs. For example, the future of the Rohingya stranded in Sri Lanka remains uncertain. About 67 Rohingya—who arrived a couple of years ago and are currently under the care of the UN Refugee Agency—are waiting for resettlement in a third country, but the process is slow because nations are not willing to accept asylum seekers, citing the burden on taxpayers.

So, the pressure should be on the government of Myanmar. The country must be held accountable for its own domestic problems and must refrain from using its junta to suppress and oppress its people—the Rohingya in particular.

Although Myanmar remains on the global human rights watch list, it continues to maintain friendly ties with countries like Sri Lanka. As a member of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Myanmar is also obligated to uphold human rights standards.

Bangladesh, grappling with domestic challenges and political instability while recovering from recent setbacks, must also address the growing Rohingya crisis within its borders. The country faces the critical task of determining a political resolution—either through diplomatic negotiations or by seeking international support.

The Trump administration could also reconsider the financial support allocated to the Rohingya crisis in Cox’s Bazar, as it remains funded by American taxpayers. The administration’s actions to weaken government accountability—such as firing inspectors general and pausing enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act—have raised concerns about the fragility of US foreign policy. A reduction in funding would not only impact Rohingya aid programmes but also put their lives at greater risk.

This raises pressing questions: What alternative strategies—or a "Plan B"—do Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have for managing the Rohingya crisis? Could another international organization step in to oversee the refugee influx? The future of the Rohingya remains uncertain, and ultimately, Myanmar must be held accountable for resolving the crisis and ensuring the protection of its people.

Whether Trump's protectionist policies will strengthen US interests or trigger unintended global economic disruptions remains a topic of debate in boardrooms, parliaments, and newsrooms worldwide. However, countries must take decisive action now to prepare for any potential consequences.

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The writer is the Deputy Editor of Ceylon Today, a Colombo-based English daily. She can be reached at [email protected]