The United States has deported at least 25,447 migrants to countries with which they have no previous ties under a network of agreements negotiated by the Trump administration, an international investigation has found.
The investigation by Forbidden Stories and a consortium of media organisations found that the US had reached agreements with 35 countries to accept migrants who could not legally be returned to their countries of origin.
As of last month about 20,000 of those deported had been sent to Mexico, while others were transferred to 27 countries across Latin America, Africa and the Pacific.
Agreements have also been finalised with seven additional countries.
The investigation found that the US administration had earmarked about $410m (£305m) to support the deportation arrangements, with funds going either directly to receiving governments or to United Nations agencies involved in migration and refugee programmes.
African countries approached
According to Forbidden Stories, 49 of Africa’s 54 countries have been approached about accepting migrants deported from the US.
The agreements differ in their conditions, including the nationalities that can be accepted and whether migrants with criminal records are eligible.
The investigation said the US has also used visa restrictions and other measures to encourage African countries to accept deportees.
Lawyers interviewed by the investigation described the situation for some deportees as a “legal black hole”, saying some were detained without charge in countries where they had no previous connection and limited legal rights.
The developments come as US courts continue to examine the legality of third-country deportations. On 18 September, a US appeals court ruled that migrants must have a meaningful opportunity to raise safety concerns before being deported to countries other than their own.
State Department office leads negotiations
Most of the negotiations and payments have been handled by the State Department’s Office of Remigration, created last year according to the investigation.
The office is headed by diplomat Christian Jove Ehrhardt, who previously worked as a security officer. The Washington Post separately reported that the office has been central to efforts to establish third-country deportation agreements.
The Washington Post
Cameroon is among the African countries involved. It signed a memorandum of understanding with the US in December to accept deportees, while the US later announced additional funding linked to refugee and migration programmes in the country.
The first US deportation flight under the arrangement reportedly arrived in Cameroon early this year.
Internationly
Millions committed to governments and UN agencies
Internal US State Department records reviewed by the investigation showed that $81m was earmarked for governments that signed agreements.
More than $178m was intended for the International Organization for Migration, while about $123m was earmarked for the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR.
UNHCR said it was not party to the bilateral deportation agreements and that US funding was being used in line with its mandate to strengthen asylum systems.
An IOM spokesperson said the agency considered whether its involvement would improve the lives of affected migrants.
“In these instances, we believe strongly it does,” the spokesperson said.
Some agreements have involved direct payments. Palau, for example, agreed to accept up to 75 third-country nationals under a $7.5m arrangement, while Eswatini has received more than 30 deportees under a deal worth about $5.1.
The investigation highlights the growing use of third-country deportations as the Trump administration expands its immigration enforcement programme.
