US Sends 25,000 Migrants to Third Countries via Secret Deals
Secret agreements with 35 nations facilitated the transfer of over 25,000 individuals, funded by a $410 million budget.
Key points
- Over 25,447 migrants were deported to 35 third countries under secret US agreements.
- The US allocated $410 million to fund these transfers directly to governments or UN agencies.
- Approximately 20,000 deportees were sent to Mexico, while others went to Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific.
The United States has transferred more than 25,000 migrants to third countries under a series of undisclosed bilateral agreements, according to a recent investigation. These transfers were facilitated by financial arrangements totaling $410 million, allocated either directly to receiving nations or to United Nations agencies to manage relocation logistics.
The findings were published by Forbidden Stories in collaboration with a consortium of international journalists and reported by Ukrainian National News (UNN). The data indicates that as of late August 2026, at least 25,447 individuals had been moved to countries where they hold no legal status or familial ties, marking a significant expansion of the administration’s migration enforcement strategy.
Financial mechanisms drive third-country transfers
Following the inauguration of President Donald Trump in early 2025, Washington initiated negotiations with developing nations to accept deportees who could not be legally returned to their countries of origin. The $410 million program was structured to provide direct payments to governments willing to host these individuals, creating a financial incentive for participation in the scheme.
According to the investigation, the majority of these transfers were directed to Mexico, which received approximately 20,000 individuals. The remaining deportees were distributed across 27 other nations in Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific region, with additional agreements reportedly finalized with seven more countries to expand the network further.
Legal ambiguity surrounds detention status
Legal experts cited in the report describe the situation as a "legal black hole," where individuals are held without formal charges in jurisdictions with which they have no connection. These migrants often lack access to basic rights or legal representation, leaving them in a state of indefinite administrative detention.
An earlier investigation by Agence France-Presse suggested that visa restrictions and bans were used as leverage to pressure African nations into accepting deportees. Forbidden Stories noted that up to 49 of 54 African countries had been approached with offers to participate in the program, highlighting the broad geographical scope of these diplomatic efforts.
State Department unit manages negotiations
The negotiations and payment processes were largely handled by the Office of Remigration, a division within the U.S. Department of State established in May 2025. This unit has coordinated the complex logistics of moving individuals across international borders while maintaining a degree of operational secrecy regarding the specific terms of each bilateral deal.
The terms of these agreements vary significantly, with differing rules regarding which nationalities are accepted and whether individuals with criminal records are permitted entry. Observers are now watching how international courts and human rights bodies will respond to these extraterritorial detention practices in the coming months.
