Trump’s $410M Secret Network Sends 25,000 Migrants to Unfamiliar Third Countries

Key points

• The State Department’s Office of Remigration, led by Christian Ehrhardt, has secured deals with 31 countries, mostly in Africa and Latin America, to accept migrants from other nations.
• The U.S. has pledged $81 million in direct payments to 13 governments and $303 million to international organizations like the UN Refugee Agency to facilitate these transfers.
• Over 25,000 people have been deported to third countries since January 2025, with approximately 20,000 sent to Mexico and the rest to nations like Ghana, Eswatini, and the Central African Republic.
• A federal appeals court ruled on September 18, 2026, that removing individuals without allowing them to raise fear-based claims is unlawful, though the administration intends to appeal.
• Critics and human rights groups report that deportees face torture, arbitrary detention, and 'refoulement' (being sent back to their home countries), violating international refugee laws.

Background

This policy follows a broader shift in U.S. immigration enforcement, including the suspension of refugee processing and the use of secret Alien Terrorist Removal Courts. Previous coverage highlighted the first deportation flight to Haiti after TPS suspension and cases of asylum seekers sent to Africa, such as an Iranian activist sent to the Central African Republic.

How outlets are covering it

The Washington Post and The Guardian emphasize the secrecy and financial scale of the deals, noting that contracts bypass statutory human rights safeguards. France 24 focuses on the human impact, detailing cases of individuals with 'withholding of removal' protections being sent to countries that do not accept them, such as LGBTQ+ individuals sent to Cameroon. While the administration argues these moves target 'dangerous criminals' and 'illegal aliens' whose home countries refuse them, critics and legal experts describe the policy as a loophole to circumvent international non-refoulement principles. The Washington Post highlights the role of Stephen Miller in pushing these appointments, while France 24 notes the lack of official communication and the use of deportation as a deterrent.

Why it matters

This policy represents a fundamental shift in U.S. foreign policy, inverting the State Department’s traditional role in refugee resettlement into a deportation operation. It raises serious concerns about human rights violations, the misuse of foreign aid, and the potential for chain refoulement, where migrants are ultimately returned to countries where they face persecution. The legal battle over this policy could set a precedent for international refugee law and U.S. immigration enforcement.

What to watch

The Trump administration is expected to appeal the federal appeals court ruling to the Supreme Court. The administration may seek a stay of the decision while appealing. Meanwhile, the Office of Remigration is likely to continue negotiating new deals, potentially with more countries, as the administration seeks to expand its third-country deportation network.