Probe Reveals 25,000 US Deportees Sent to Non-Home Nations

An extensive investigation has revealed that the United States has deported more than 25,000 individuals to countries with which they had no established ties. According to Forbidden Stories, a Paris-based news organization, at least 25,447 people were sent to 28 different nations as of the end of August. These figures have not been publicly disclosed by the US government, highlighting a gap in transparency regarding recent migration enforcement actions.

The findings are part of a collaborative effort involving 72 journalists from 26 media organizations across 15 countries. The consortium conducted over 100 interviews with deportees, government officials, legal experts, and humanitarian workers to map the scope of these third-country removals. The report suggests a significant shift in how the administration handles individuals who are not citizens of their home countries but are present in the US.

Financial mechanisms behind new agreements

Internal State Department records obtained by The Washington Post indicate that the US planned to spend at least $410 million to secure these bilateral arrangements. A significant portion of this budget, approximately $81 million, was earmarked for the governments that agreed to accept the deportees. Additionally, more than $178 million was allocated to the International Organization for Migration, while over $123 million was directed to the UN refugee agency to support the logistical and humanitarian aspects of the transfers.

These negotiations were largely managed by the State Department's Office of Remigration, a division established in 2025 during a broader restructuring of the department. The creation of this specific office underscores the administrative priority placed on facilitating removals to third countries. The financial scale of the operation suggests a structured, state-backed approach to managing migration through international cooperation rather than unilateral enforcement.

Legal challenges and executive response

The White House responded to the investigation by stating that the individuals sent to third countries are those whose home countries refuse to accept them. Officials noted that this includes individuals with removal orders who have explicitly requested not to be returned to their countries of origin. According to the administration, these measures are intended to resolve cases where traditional deportation pathways are blocked by the reluctance of origin states to repatriate their citizens.

However, the legal framework supporting these removals has faced significant judicial scrutiny. On September 18, a US federal appeals court ordered a halt to third-country removals, ruling that migrants had not been provided with sufficient notice or a meaningful opportunity to challenge their deportation. This judicial intervention highlights the ongoing tension between executive immigration policy and due process rights, raising questions about the long-term viability of the third-country deportation strategy.

Watch for future court rulings

The next phase of this controversy will likely hinge on the outcome of further legal appeals and the administration's response to the court's injunction. Observers should monitor whether the government complies with the halt order or seeks to overturn the ruling in higher courts. Additionally, the transparency of future agreements with third countries, including the specific criteria for selection and the humanitarian conditions in receiving nations, will be critical factors in determining the policy's sustainability and international acceptance.