A report by Forbidden Stories reveals that since January 2025, the United States has deported over 25,000 people to third countries through secretive deals involving 35 nations and a $410 million budget. The investigation highlights that most deportees have been sent to Mexico, but others have gone to various Latin American, African, and Pacific countries. These agreements often involve direct payments or aid conditional on accepting migrants with no ties to these countries, raising concerns about the legality and rights of those deported.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Since Donald Trump took office in January 2025, the US has secretly entered into agreements with 35 countries to deport more than 25,447 migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers who lack ties to those nations. The majority of these individuals were sent to Mexico, but others were dispersed across Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific region. These deals often involve payments from the US government—$410 million has been earmarked for this purpose—to help facilitate returns or directly to receiving countries. Human rights advocates criticize the policy as a "show of force," while the UNHCR supports states' responsibilities to protect refugees, stating that funds are used within their mandate to strengthen asylum systems globally.
Written for “US Third Country Deportations” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
US has deported 25,000 to third countries under secretive deals: Report
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The United States has deported more than 25,000 people under secretive agreements with 35 countries to take migrants with no ties to those nations, according to an investigation published on Sept 21.
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Since US President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, Washington has been signing deals with developing countries to take migrants who cannot legally be sent home.
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who → take → migrants
The investigation by Forbidden Stories found the administration has earmarked US$410 million (S$523 million) to be paid directly to the receiving countries, or to UN agencies to facilitate the returns.
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administration → find → returns
At least 25,447 people had already been deported to third countries by Aug 31, 2026, according to data compiled by Forbidden Stories with a consortium of international journalists.
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The vast majority – around 20,000 – were sent to Mexico, but the rest were dispersed to 27 other countries across Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific, and agreements have been finalised with seven more.
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agreements → send → seven
The deals vary, including over which nationalities can be deported and whether people with criminal records can be accepted.
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people → vary → records
An AFP investigation earlier in 2026 found Washington is using visa bans and restrictions on African countries to strong-arm them into accepting deportees.
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Washington → find → deportees
Lawyers told AFP that deportees were being thrown into a “legal black hole”, held without charge in countries where they have no ties and few if any rights.
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they → tell → ties
Forbidden Stories said 49 of Africa’s 54 countries had been approached about accepting third-country deportees.
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49 → say → deportees
A little-known State Department division called the Office of Remigration, created in May 2025, has handled most of the negotiations and payments, according to Forbidden Stories.
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The office is headed by Christian Jove Ehrhardt, a 41-year-old diplomat who previously worked as a security officer.
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The report details his visits to Cameroon, which signed a memorandum of understanding with the US in December on accepting deportees.
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which → detail → deportees
A week later, it also signed a five-year health assistance programme worth nearly US$400 million.
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The following month, the State Department said it would provide a further US$30 million to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Cameroon to “facilitate the voluntary return of refugees and combat illegal immigration”.
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The first plane carrying deportees arrived in Cameroon on Jan 14.
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Payments
Other agreements have involved direct payments to governments.
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Palau, a small Pacific island nation with a population of under 18,000, signed an agreement in December 2025 to accept up to 75 third-country nationals in return for U$7.5 million.
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However, only three people have so far been sent under the agreement.
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In Eswatini, 32 people have arrived since July 2025 out of a possible 160 under an agreement worth more than US$5 million.
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It has accepted deportees with criminal records, the investigation found.
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investigation → accept → records
Of the US$410 million planned for the agreements, internal State Department records showed that US$81 million was earmarked for signatory governments.
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The rest was intended for aid organisations, including more than US$178 million for the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and US$123 million for UNHCR.
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The agencies have faced criticism over their involvement, although UNHCR told Forbidden Stories that it was not party to the bilateral agreements and that US funding was being used in line with its mandate to strengthen asylum systems.
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funding → face → systems
An IOM spokesperson told Forbidden Stories that the agency’s decisions to accept funding rested “on a single question: whether our engagement will improve the lives of the migrants affected.
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engagement → tell → migrants
In these instances, we believe strongly it does”.
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The Aporia
