Ivory Coast rejects U.S. proposal to host deported foreign nationals

Ivory Coast has declined a proposal from the United States to host foreign nationals who have been deported from the U.S. but are not citizens of Ivory Coast. This information was revealed through investigations by Forbidden Stories and the Washington Post.

In mid-June 2026, Christian Ehrhardt, a U.S. Department of State official, visited Abidjan to negotiate agreements for third-country deportations. Despite the U.S. offering significant financial incentives—with internal documents suggesting at least $410 million was authorized or promised to facilitate such deals—Ivorian authorities rejected the request. In contrast, neighboring Liberia reportedly accepted the proposal.

This initiative is part of a broader U.S. policy to deport individuals to third countries with which they may have no prior connection. Since January 2025, internal State Department data indicates that over 25,000 people have been deported to at least 28 different countries under these types of agreements.