The essentials
US secures bilateral agreements with Cameroon, Palau, and Eswatini to receive expelled individuals with varying financial arrangements.
The United States has negotiated bilateral agreements with Cameroon, Palau, and Eswatini to receive expelled individuals as part of its third-country expulsion framework. Cameroon agreed to accept expelled individuals and received $430 million in aid, representing the largest financial package in the arrangement. Palau consented to accept 75 expelled individuals in exchange for $7.5 million, establishing a scaled compensation model. Eswatini also agreed to receive expelled individuals, including those with criminal records, under a separate bilateral agreement.
These agreements demonstrate the diplomatic approach underlying the expulsion program, with financial incentives tied to acceptance capacity. The arrangements vary in scale and compensation structure, reflecting negotiations tailored to each nation's circumstances and capacity.
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Bilateral agreements establish financial framework for expulsion transfers
The agreements reveal a tiered compensation system: Cameroon receives $430 million, Palau receives $7.5 million for 75 individuals (approximately $100,000 per person), and Eswatini receives undisclosed terms. This structure indicates how the US tailors financial packages to recipient nations' capacity and negotiating position, establishing sustainable bilateral relationships for the ongoing program.
Three African and Pacific nations accept expelled individuals under terms
Cameroon, Palau, and Eswatini represent geographically diverse partners—West Africa, the Pacific, and Southern Africa respectively. Each nation negotiated distinct terms reflecting their circumstances: Cameroon's larger economy received proportionally higher aid, while Palau's smaller population accepted fewer individuals. Eswatini's inclusion of individuals with criminal records highlights varying conditions across agreements.