Official data indicates that tens of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers have been deported to countries where they have no prior connections. Since January 2025, when Donald Trump took office as president, US immigration authorities have significantly increased detentions and deportations. Trump had campaigned on a promise to execute the "largest deportation operation in American history," leading to thousands of arrests daily by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
This includes individuals seeking asylum in the US, who are entitled to present their cases regarding potential dangers in their home countries. US law and international treaties, such as the United Nations Convention Against Torture, prohibit deportations to countries where individuals may face persecution or torture.
Many detainees express fears for their safety if returned to their home countries, prompting the Trump administration to explore alternative deportation destinations, including nations with which they may have no cultural or legal ties. Known as third-country deportations, this practice has faced criticism from the US and international rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, as well as the UN.
Critics argue that some recipient countries have poor human rights records or are deemed unsafe, leading the US government to advise its citizens against traveling there. They also raise concerns about the lack of guarantees that these countries will fairly assess asylum claims, potentially resulting in deportees being sent back to face persecution.
While third-country deportations are not a new concept, rights groups assert that their frequency has surged under the Trump administration, with estimates suggesting that over 25,000 individuals have been forcibly deported based on media reports and legal information. The DHS reports more than 16,000 cases of third-country deportations from January 2025 to August 2026, the most recent month for which data is available, although this figure may be an undercount.
Deportations require approval from the destination country's authorities, leading the Trump administration to negotiate agreements to facilitate these deportations. Some nations, such as El Salvador and Eswatini, have consented to detain deportees, while others have entered into Asylum Cooperative Agreements with the US, allowing deportees to seek asylum in the hosting country.
Rights groups, including Refugees International and Human Rights First, report that many deportees are unaware of their destination, often ending up in countries where they do not speak the language and lack cultural familiarity. Some deportees lack essential documents, complicating their ability to establish a life in these new locations.
The list of countries accepting deportees has expanded as the US offers financial aid or other incentives. For example, Liberia has agreed to accept up to 1,200 deportees, with the Trump administration extending certain visa validity for Liberians and committing $124 million for health services in the country. In December 2025, Cameroon also agreed to accept third-country nationals, with the US pledging $30 million for UN refugee efforts and $400 million for health services in the country.