US Deports 25,000 Migrants to 35 Third Countries
A coalition of 24 news outlets reports that Washington allocated over $400 million for third-country removals.
Key points
- More than 25,000 migrants have been deported to third countries since January 2025.
- The US allocated over $400 million to 35 developing nations for these removals.
- Mexico received the largest share, with the rest sent to Africa and Latin America.
A coordinated investigation by twenty-four international news organizations has revealed that the United States has removed more than 25,000 migrants to third countries since January 2025. The findings, compiled by the Paris-based group Forbidden Stories, indicate that these transfers were not directed to the migrants’ countries of origin but rather to various developing nations in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
According to the report, the Trump administration has signed private agreements with thirty-five developing nations to accept these individuals. The investigation states that over 400 million dollars in public funds were allocated to facilitate these moves, with payments reportedly made both directly to the receiving governments and to United Nations agencies assisting in the logistics.
Confidential Agreements Drive Transfers
The specific terms of these arrangements have been kept confidential by the US government. However, non-governmental organizations such as Refugees International and Human Rights First have worked to reconstruct the scope of the program. These groups established a tracking platform to document the signed agreements and monitor the monthly flow of deportees, providing a rare public window into a process that was previously opaque.
Routes Span Multiple Continents
Data collected as of late 2026 shows that approximately 20,000 individuals were transported by land to Mexico. The remaining migrants were flown to destinations across three continents. In Africa, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, and the Central African Republic received the largest cohorts, while in Latin America, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras were the primary recipients. Smaller numbers were also sent to the Caribbean, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe.
Future Oversight Remains Uncertain
As the administration continues to manage these transfers, questions remain regarding the long-term legal and humanitarian implications. The reliance on private agreements rather than standard bilateral repatriation treaties suggests a shift in migration policy that may face scrutiny from international courts and human rights bodies in the coming months.
