Deportation Without Borders: Trump’s Third-Country Removals by the Numbers
An international investigation documents that since January 2025 the US has deported more than 25,000 people to third countries—mostly to Mexico—under a widening third-country removal program, with at least 5,447 by flight to 89 nationalities and over 28 countries hosting deportees by August 2026. Thirteen African nations have signed deals, with Ghana receiving the most, while secret pacts with other states are tied to concessions and aid, sometimes despite concerns over human rights and the risk of refoulement. Advocates say many deportees had no criminal record or valid asylum concerns, and human rights groups report degrading treatment and detention. A 2026 federal appeals court ruled such transfers illegal without a meaningful chance to raise fears of persecution, but officials suggest the policy may continue; the investigation also highlights the human cost through stories of people like Rabbiatu Kuyateh and Malick, who were moved to unfamiliar countries after years in the US.