US pressures African nations to accept expelled migrants
AFP investigation reveals US employs pressure tactics—visa restrictions, trade threats, financial incentives—to compel African nations accepting expelled migrants.
Event / Society
Trump Administration Deportation Policy
Trump administration's immigration enforcement initiatives including expedited removal procedures, third-country expulsions, court challenges, and due process disputes.
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2026-09-21 to 2026-10-31 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 21 Sept, 17:58 UTC
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What happened
DHS establishes expedited procedures for third-country expulsions without individual recourse
New directives issued by the Department of Homeland Security in 2025 authorize third-country expulsions on the condition that the receiving country provides guarantees that transferred persons will not be persecuted or tortured and that the State Department deems these guarantees credible. Under these directives, there is no individual right of appeal or recourse available to affected persons, establishing a streamlined expulsion process.
US government expels over 25,000 people to third countries under secret agreements
According to an investigation published on September 21, 2026 by the Forbidden Stories journalism consortium, the US government has expelled more than 25,000 people to third countries under secret agreements with 35 countries willing to accept them. These countries include Mexico, Panama, Uruguay, several African nations, and Pacific islands. The US government allocated at least 410 million dollars to finance these programs, either directly to receiving countries or through UN agencies.
Trump administration defends third-country expulsions as essential policy tool
Trump administration legal counsel John Sauer defended third-country expulsions as an essential tool for removing certain foreigners, including serious criminal offenders. Sauer argued that lower court decisions caused substantial logistical problems, citing that the Department of Homeland Security had to cancel flights to three countries carrying 70 penally convicted foreigners. The administration maintains that expulsions can be conducted once the receiving country provides assurances that transferred persons will not be persecuted or tortured and the State Department deems those guarantees credible.
Federal appeals court confirms illegality of third-country expulsion directives
A federal appellate court confirmed on September 18, 2026 a lower court decision finding the Department of Homeland Security's directives on third-country expulsions to be illegal. The appeals court upheld requirements that persons subject to expulsion to a third country must have notice and a meaningful opportunity to contest their transfer based on persecution or torture risks.
Lower court judge rules DHS directives on third-country expulsions illegal
In February 2026, a federal judge in Boston ruled that the Department of Homeland Security's new directives on third-country expulsions were illegal. The judge determined that persons targeted for expulsion to a country other than their own must be able to invoke the risk of persecution or torture. The judge required that affected individuals be notified of their destination and given a meaningful opportunity to file a legal challenge based on the UN Convention Against Torture before being transferred.
US Supreme Court suspends lower court limits on migrant expulsions to third countries
The US Supreme Court, with a conservative majority, suspended on September 29, 2026 the restrictions imposed by lower courts on expulsions of undocumented immigrants to third countries. The court granted an emergency request from the Trump administration to suspend decisions from lower courts that had required protections for people targeted for expulsion. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on the merits of the case in December 2026 to rule on the legality of new directives issued in 2025 by the Department of Homeland Security regarding third-country expulsions.
Supreme Court authorizes expulsion of Asian migrants to South Sudan
The Supreme Court, responding to an emergency request from the Trump administration, authorized the expulsion of a group of migrants, primarily from Asian countries, to South Sudan. In 2025, a federal judge had suspended this expulsion, but the Supreme Court overruled that suspension, allowing the expulsion to proceed. The migrants arrived in South Sudan in July 2025.
AFP investigation documents US pressure on African nations to accept expelled migrants
An investigation by the AFP published in early 2026 documented that Washington applied pressure on African countries to accept expelled migrants through threats of tariff increases, visa issuance suspensions, and reduction of foreign aid. These coercive measures were used to compel African nations to accept individuals expelled by the United States.
Supreme Court stays lower court order on third-country deportations
The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 order on September 30, 2026, temporarily halting lower court requirements that migrants receive notice and an opportunity to object before being deported to countries other than their own. The stay lifts a February ruling from a federal district court in Massachusetts and an appeals court decision that imposed additional procedural protections for deportees. The Court agreed to hear arguments on the policy's legality in December 2026.
Migrants report inadequate notice and dangerous conditions in third-country deportations
Attorneys challenging the third-country deportation policy reported that migrants removed to third countries have faced prolonged and arbitrary detention, beatings, sexual assault, disappearance, and chain refoulement. Some deportees in countries like Liberia learned of their destinations only hours before deportation flights or during flights themselves. Many deported individuals have no criminal convictions and have been found to be at risk of torture or persecution in destination countries.
Supreme Court to hear arguments on third-country deportation policy in December 2026
The Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments for December 2026 to consider the constitutionality and legality of the Trump administration's third-country deportation policy. The Court directed parties to address questions including whether the policy violates federal law, the Constitution's Due Process Clause, and applicable regulations. A decision is expected by summer 2027.
Cancelled deportation flight affected approximately 70 migrants bound for three countries
Federal attorneys reported that a lower court order forced the cancellation of a deportation flight carrying approximately 70 people who were scheduled to be sent to three different countries. The Trump administration cited this disruption as evidence that lower court procedural requirements were interfering with its ability to conduct third-country removals.
Trump administration's third-country deportation policy has removed approximately 25,000 people
Under a series of often-secret bilateral agreements, the Trump administration has deported some 25,000 people to more than two dozen countries through its third-country removal policy. The vast majority were sent to Mexico, but deportations have also occurred to countries including Liberia, Guyana, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. The policy allows the administration to send deportees to third countries when they cannot be returned to their home countries or when their native countries refuse to accept them.
Trump administration brokered agreements with dozens of countries for third-country deportations
As part of its mass deportation agenda, the Trump administration has negotiated agreements with dozens of countries globally, primarily in Africa and Latin America, to accept deportees from the United States who are not their citizens. Among the nations that have agreed to accept deportees are countries including Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Eswatini, and Liberia. Some of these countries have been identified as having repressive governments, armed conflict, human rights abuses, and widespread poverty.
Trump administration seeks Supreme Court emergency relief for third-country deportation policy
The Trump administration filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court on Thursday asking the court to pause a federal court order that blocked its policy of deporting migrants to countries where they are not citizens. The Justice Department argued that the lower court's ruling undermines the administration's mass deportation agenda and harms diplomatic relationships with third countries. Solicitor General D. John Sauer stated that the policy has allowed removal of thousands of individuals in recent months, with thousands more eligible for such deportations.
Migrants deported to Liberia report being sent without advance notice or hearing opportunity
Men and women from Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela were deported to Liberia in West Africa last month without being notified in advance or given an opportunity to challenge the deportation. These deportees described feeling stateless after being removed to a country with no connection to their origins. All reported experiencing the deportation process without due process protections.
Supreme Court previously allowed third-country deportations to resume pending legal proceedings
In a divided decision last year, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to resume deportations to third countries while legal proceedings continued, lifting an order from the federal judge in Boston that had prevented the administration from removing immigrants without first giving them the chance to raise concerns about torture or persecution.
Federal court blocks third-country deportation policy citing due process violations
A federal judge in Boston issued an order in February 2026 blocking the Trump administration's third-country deportation policy, which was largely upheld by an appellate court the week prior. The courts ruled that the policy violates deportees' due process rights because immigration officials were deporting people without providing notice or an opportunity to challenge the deportation. The decision requires federal immigration officials to give deportees notice and a chance to contest their removal to third countries before any deportation occurs.
Department of Homeland Security cancelled third-country deportation flight due to court orders
Following the lower court rulings against the third-country deportation policy, the Department of Homeland Security was forced to cancel a flight intended to deport 70 individuals to three third countries. Among those scheduled for deportation were some individuals with criminal records. The cancellation demonstrates the immediate operational impact of the federal court orders blocking the policy.
US expels over 25,000 people to third countries under secret bilateral agreements
The US government expelled 25,447 people to 28 third countries by August 31, 2026, under confidential bilateral agreements signed since Trump took office in January 2025. These agreements involved 35 countries across Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific region, with approximately 20,000 expelled to Mexico alone. The expellees were transferred to countries with which they had no legal connection and could not be legally returned to their home countries.
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2 alternative perspectives
DHS establishes expedited expulsion procedures bypassing individual legal review
DHS expedited expulsion procedures enable third-country removals without individual legal review or hearing opportunities.
Supreme Court overrides lower court restrictions on migrant expulsions
Supreme Court overrides lower court blocks on third-country deportations, resuming expulsion operations pending December hearings.
Deportees to Liberia report expulsions without notice or legal protections
Liberia deportees removed without notice or hearing, revealing procedural safeguard gaps in third-country expulsion program.
Deportation program reaches 25,000 removals through third-country agreements
Third-country deportation program reaches 25,000 removals despite ongoing constitutional legal challenges.
Supreme Court to decide third-country deportation policy constitutionality
Supreme Court accelerates review of third-country deportation policy with December 2026 arguments scheduled.
Liberia deportees report expulsion without notice or hearing
Deported individuals report expulsion from the United States to Liberia without notice or hearing.
US expands deportation agreements with dozens of countries globally
US secures deportation agreements with dozens of countries for third-country expulsion program.
Federal court blocks deportation policy as Trump administration seeks Supreme Court intervention
Federal court blocks third-country deportations; Trump administration appeals to Supreme Court.
US Leverages Visa Restrictions and Trade Threats to Enforce Expulsion Compliance
US weaponizes visa and trade leverage while expelled individuals operate outside legal protections.
US secures bilateral agreements with three nations for expelled individuals
US secures bilateral agreements with Cameroon, Palau, and Eswatini to receive expelled individuals with varying financial arrangements.
US establishes infrastructure for third-country expulsion agreements
US launches Office of Remigration with $410 million to expel 25,000+ people via third-country agreements.