Trump ramps up third-country US deportations despite global rights outcry

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that US immigration authorities have sharply expanded detentions and deportations under President Donald Trump, including removals to “third countries” where deportees may have no prior ties. The article says the policy has drawn criticism from international rights groups and UN experts, who argue it can expose asylum seekers and migrants to abuse, unfair hearings or further expulsion. It also notes that US law and anti-torture obligations are meant to prevent sending people to places where they could face persecution or torture.

The story says this practice, while not new, is being used on a much larger scale than before. Citing data reviewed by Al Jazeera, the report says the Department of Homeland Security recorded more than 16,000 third-country deportation cases between January 2025 and August 2026, while advocacy groups estimate the total may be higher than 25,000 based on media accounts and lawyer reports. The article says the figures likely undercount the full scope of the program.

According to the report, the administration has pursued arrangements with a growing list of countries to accept deportees, sometimes in exchange for aid, visa concessions or other incentives. Examples mentioned include Liberia, which agreed to take up to 1,200 deportees, and Cameroon, which agreed to receive third-country nationals. The article says some deportees are held in prisons or transferred temporarily under asylum-related agreements, often with limited information about where they are going.