Pastor Deported to Ghana Despite Legal Protections Highlights Flaws in Third-Country Removals

Key points

• Samuel Nnamdi, a 45-year-old pastor and father of five, was detained by ICE on July 6, 2026, while commuting to his UPS job in Mesquite, Texas.
• Nnamdi was deported to Ghana, a country he has never visited and has no ties to, despite a 2019 immigration judge ruling granting him 'withholding of removal' from Nigeria due to grave danger.
• The 'withholding of removal' protection barred deportation to Nigeria but did not prevent removal to a third country, a loophole the Trump administration has exploited.
• Nnamdi's case is part of a broader program that has deported over 25,000 people to third countries during Trump's second term, according to Third Country Deportation Watch.
• A Washington Post investigation found the U.S. government has authorized at least $410 million for third-country deportation agreements with 31 countries, including over $81 million in direct payments to foreign governments.
• Critics, including Ghanaian lawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor, allege that some deportees sent to Ghana are forcibly returned to their countries of origin, a practice known as refoulement, which is prohibited under international law.

Background

The Trump administration's third-country deportation program, which began in 2025, has expanded significantly, with 35 deals signed to relocate approximately 25,000 migrants to non-U.S. destinations, including Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean. The program, run from a new Office of Remigration and funded by foreign aid, has faced legal challenges, with a federal appeals court finding it unlawful for due-process reasons, though the government plans to appeal. This case of Samuel Nnamdi highlights the ongoing controversy and scrutiny over the legality and human impact of the program, as well as the potential for refoulement to countries with human rights abuses.

Why it matters

The case of Samuel Nnamdi underscores the human cost and legal complexities of the Trump administration's third-country deportation program. It raises critical questions about due process, the safety of destination countries, and the potential for forced refoulement, which violates international law. The program's financial burden on taxpayers and its impact on families separated by deportation are significant concerns, highlighting the broader implications of immigration policy on vulnerable populations.

What to watch

The Trump administration is expected to continue its third-country deportation program despite legal challenges, with plans to appeal the federal appeals court ruling. Nnamdi's case may lead to further scrutiny of the program's legality and humanitarian impact, potentially prompting legal action or policy changes. The administration's defense of the program as closing loopholes in the immigration system will likely face continued opposition from critics and legal experts.