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U.S. third-country migrant deportation policy

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2026-08-18 23:33 UTC → 2026-08-19 07:04 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The United States has implemented a “third-country” deportation policy under the Trump administration, redirecting migrants who cannot be returned to their home nations to various African countries. Initial operations involved transferring dozens of individuals to Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and the Central African Republic, often using Senegal as a logistical refueling hub. Human rights organizations have criticized these transfers, noting that many migrants lack ties to their destination countries and face risks of indefinite detention or persecution. In Sierra Leone, ~~for example,~~ 32 migrants were received under a U.S.-funded agreement allowing up to 300 arrivals annually. The scope of the program has since expanded through new bilateral agreements. Liberia has agreed to accept up to 1,200 deportees—including nationals from Africa, North and South America, and the Caribbean—over the course of one year. Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah stated the deportees include individuals from various regions, and the first group of 20 is expected to arrive in Liberia this Thursday. Justice Minister Natu Oswald Tweh confirmed the Liberian government has screened the list of migrants, noting that most have immigration violations or offenses. While migrants may seek asylum upon arrival or choose to leave the country, Liberian officials have characterized the initiative as a “humanitarian gesture,” noting that the U.S. will provide support to help manage the program and strengthen local migration systems. However, advocates have raised concerns that such deals may serve as a “legal loophole to bypass protection orders issued by U.S. immigration judges.”

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