More than 25,000 undocumented immigrants have been expelled to third countries under the strict anti-immigration policies of the Trump administration.
A report released by the investigative group Forbidden Stories indicates that approximately 20,000 of those deported were sent to Mexico, while the remainder were distributed across 27 countries in Central America, Africa, and the Pacific region. The U.S. State Department has reportedly activated a dedicated office for resettlement to execute secret agreements with these third countries and manage related funding.
In this process, the U.S. has utilized foreign aid and visa restrictions to encourage acceptance of deportees. For instance, Cameroon received a commitment of $400 million for health support after signing a memorandum of understanding last December, while Eswatini agreed to accept 160 undocumented immigrants, including ex-convicts, in exchange for $5 million in aid.
Additionally, it has been revealed that a significant portion of the $410 million allocated for third-country deportations by the State Department has been assigned to international organizations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR. This has sparked criticism that these organizations are complicit in the U.S. anti-immigration policies. In response, the organizations have denied any connection, stating that the funding is intended solely for strengthening asylum systems and improving conditions for migrants.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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