US Deports 25,000 Migrants to Third Countries

The U.S. government has authorized or pledged at least $410 million to facilitate deportation agreements with 31 countries, primarily in Africa and Latin America, as of the end of June. According to internal government records reviewed by The Washington Post, these documents provide the most comprehensive picture to date of a fast-growing network designed to remove migrants from the United States to nations with which they have no prior connection.

Under these arrangements, the U.S. has expelled migrants to various global locations, including flights to Costa Rica carrying individuals from China, Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan, and a flight to Eswatini with migrants from Vietnam, Laos, Cuba, and Jamaica. Since President Donald Trump took office in 2025, the administration has signed bilateral agreements with 35 countries, resulting in the removal of more than 25,000 people to 'third countries' rather than their home nations.

Financial Incentives Drive Agreements

The State Department has brokered these deals using financial incentives and political pressure, according to reports from The Washington Post. This strategy represents a significant shift in immigration policy, where the focus is not on repatriation to countries of origin, but on finding third-party recipients. The funding, which remains largely undisclosed to the public, underscores the administrative and diplomatic secrecy surrounding the mechanics of these removals.

Human rights lawyers argue that the administration is utilizing a legal loophole to circumvent U.S. laws that prohibit sending people back to countries where they are likely to face persecution. By deporting migrants and asylum seekers to third countries, the Department of Homeland Security avoids the legal hurdles associated with refoulement, according to legal experts cited by The Guardian. This approach has drawn criticism for bypassing established protections for vulnerable populations.

Legal Challenges and Detention

Individual cases highlight the complexities of this policy. Nika, an Iranian national who fled after protesting against her government, was granted legal protections and freed by a judge after over a year in U.S. immigration detention. However, within two weeks, the Department of Homeland Security rearrested her, and she was subsequently deported 7,000 miles east, according to The Guardian. Her case illustrates the rapid reversal of legal status under the new framework.

Mario Guevara, an Emmy award-winning journalist from El Salvador, was arrested by ICE agents in Georgia while covering a protest. He spent more than 100 days in detention, mostly in isolation, according to Forbidden Stories. Guevara, who had lived in Atlanta for nearly two decades, was among those affected by the aggressive enforcement measures that characterize the current administration's approach to immigration.

Journalistic Access and Secrecy

The opacity of the process has raised concerns about accountability. In Cameroon, four journalists were detained in February 2026 for entering a center that secretly held deportees from the United States, according to Forbidden Stories. After a six-month investigation, details emerged about the conditions of these facilities, which are often hidden from public view. The secrecy surrounding these operations makes it difficult for oversight bodies to assess compliance with international human rights standards.

As the network of third-country agreements expands, the forward question centers on how the U.S. will manage the diplomatic and legal fallout from these removals. With 25,000 people already relocated to countries with which they have no ties, the potential for increased diplomatic friction and legal challenges is significant. Observers will watch closely for any new disclosures regarding the use of funds and the specific conditions in receiving countries.