U.S. deports more than 100 migrants to African countries they are not citizens of

Thursday 03 September 2026 - 08:25

By: Azzat Manal

U.S. deports more than 100 migrants to African countries they are not citizens of

The United States deported more than 100 migrants to eight African countries over a period of just ten days, even though none of those individuals held citizenship in the countries where they were sent, according to internal U.S. government documents obtained by CBS News.

The deportations were carried out through three Immigration and Customs Enforcement flights transporting men and women to Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Liberia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone.

The migrants came from a range of countries, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Nicaragua, Iran, Nepal, Turkey and Venezuela. Their transfers were carried out under arrangements commonly described as third-country deportation agreements, allowing Washington to send individuals to countries other than their countries of nationality.

The documents indicate that more than 30 countries have agreed to receive migrants deported by the United States despite those individuals not being their citizens. In recent months, several African governments have reached agreements or informal arrangements with Washington to accept deportees, with many of the details surrounding these deals remaining undisclosed.

The people affected by the policy have varied backgrounds. Some had previously been convicted of crimes in the United States, while others had no nationality connection to the countries that received them.

The strategy forms part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to accelerate deportations, particularly in cases where returning migrants directly to their countries of origin is difficult or impractical.

However, sending migrants to third countries has generated growing controversy. Critics argue that deportees can face uncertainty over their legal status and future prospects when they are transferred to countries with which they have no citizenship or established personal ties.

The growing use of third-country arrangements also reflects the broader challenges facing U.S. immigration authorities as Washington seeks to increase the pace of removals. Countries of origin may sometimes refuse or delay accepting deportees, while diplomatic and logistical barriers can make direct repatriation difficult.

For African governments, accepting deportees from the United States can create diplomatic and financial considerations, while also raising questions about legal protections, humanitarian conditions and the responsibilities of receiving states.

The latest transfers highlight how U.S. deportation policy is increasingly extending beyond traditional repatriation to countries of nationality. As Washington continues negotiating similar arrangements with governments around the world, the use of third countries is likely to remain a contentious issue in the international debate over migration and deportation practices.