US Deports Over 25,000 Migrants to Third Countries Under Secretive Agreements

A troubling investigation published by Forbidden Stories has unveiled that the United States has deported over 25,000 migrants to third countries as part of undisclosed agreements with 35 nations. This practice, which gained momentum following President Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2025, has seen the U.S. sign deals with developing countries to accept migrants who are unable to be returned to their home countries.

The investigation highlights that the U.S. has allocated a staggering $410 million, directed either to the host countries or to UN agencies to facilitate these deportations. By August 31, 2026, data showed that 25,447 individuals had been sent to various destinations, with the majority—approximately 20,000—being dispatched to Mexico. The remaining deportees were spread across 27 other countries, including several in Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific, with agreements in place with seven additional nations.

These agreements vary in their conditions, particularly regarding the nationalities of the deportees and whether individuals with criminal records can be included. An earlier investigation by AFP uncovered that the U.S. has been employing visa bans and other restrictions as leverage against African nations to compel them to accept these deportees. Legal experts have expressed grave concerns, describing the situation faced by deportees as a “legal black hole,” where individuals are held without charges in countries where they possess no familial or legal ties and have limited rights.

According to Forbidden Stories, an astonishing 49 out of Africa's 54 countries have been approached by the U.S. in an effort to expand this controversial deportation strategy. As these developments unfold, the implications for human rights and international relations remain significant, drawing criticism from various human rights organizations and legal advocates.