US Spends $410M on Secret Third-Country Migrant Deportations
A multi-country investigation reveals that Washington has secretly relocated over 25,000 migrants to nations with which they often have no ties.
Key points
- Over 25,000 migrants were deported to third countries under secret US agreements since early 2025.
- The White House allocated $410 million for these transfers, with nearly 20,000 people sent to Mexico by bus.
- At least 38 countries signed agreements to accept deportees, with many African nations using visa leverage.
Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, the United States has deported more than 25,000 migrants, with a significant number sent to third countries with which they had no prior connection. This systematic transfer was facilitated through secret agreements between Washington and various foreign governments, according to a new investigative report.
The findings were published by Forbidden Stories, a journalistic network comprising 26 media organizations from 15 countries. The investigation indicates that the White House allocated $410 million specifically for these operations, most of which involved ground transport to Mexico.
Logistics of Third-Country Transfers
According to the report, nearly 20,000 individuals were transported by bus to Mexico, while others were flown to 27 different nations across Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Central Asia, and the Pacific. The agreements underpinning these transfers were signed with at least 38 countries, a third of which are located in Africa.
These arrangements were largely concluded by the Office of Repatriation, a division of the US State Department established in 2025. The Washington Post, citing White House sources, noted that this mechanism is frequently used to expel migrants who are difficult to return to their countries of origin due to complex legal or security barriers.
Pressure Tactics and International Involvement
The investigation suggests that the United States has utilized visa restrictions as a lever to compel African nations to accept deportees. Journalists claim that the International Organization for Migration, a UN agency, plays a role in this process by providing housing, food, and psychological assistance to migrants in 13 receiving countries.
However, the organization has clarified that it only participates in such programs when its assistance demonstrably improves the situation of the deportees. The report highlights a tension between the US government's desire for rapid removal and the humanitarian constraints faced by international aid agencies operating in these third countries.
Broader Context of Immigration Policy
These deportation efforts are part of a broader shift in US immigration policy since January 2025. On his first day in office, President Trump signed executive orders restricting birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens and closing the southern border to unauthorized entry. The administration has also suspended temporary protection programs for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Ukraine.
By late March 2025, the US had stripped legal status from approximately 530,000 individuals from these four nations. As the administration moves forward with its enforcement strategy, observers will closely watch how these third-country agreements evolve and whether they face legal challenges or diplomatic pushback from recipient nations.
