More than 25,000 migrants have reportedly been deported from the United States to countries with which they have no established ties, following agreements reached between Washington and 35 countries.
The findings are contained in an investigation published on Monday by Forbidden Stories, which examined the Trump administration's expanding use of third-country deportations.
According to the investigation, the United States has been negotiating agreements with developing countries since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025 to receive migrants who cannot be immediately returned to their countries of origin.
The investigation said the US government has allocated approximately $410 million for the arrangements, with funds going either directly to participating governments or through United Nations agencies involved in facilitating the transfers.
More Than 25,000 People Deported
Data compiled by Forbidden Stories in collaboration with a group of international journalists showed that at least 25,447 people had been deported to third countries as of August 31, 2026.
Mexico received the largest number, with approximately 20,000 people reportedly sent there.
The remaining deportees were distributed among 27 other countries in Latin America, Africa and the Pacific, while agreements had reportedly been finalised with seven additional countries.
The terms of the arrangements differ from country to country. Some agreements reportedly specify which nationalities may be accepted, while others contain provisions relating to migrants with criminal records.
African Countries Among Those Approached
The investigation said the United States had approached 49 of Africa's 54 countries about accepting people deported from the US who do not have connections to those countries.
An earlier investigation by AFP reported that Washington had used measures including visa restrictions against some African countries as part of efforts to encourage governments to accept deportees.
Lawyers interviewed by AFP expressed concern about the legal status and treatment of some deportees, arguing that people transferred to countries where they have no personal or legal connections could face uncertainty over their rights and status.
State Department Office Handles Negotiations
According to Forbidden Stories, much of the US government's work on the agreements has been handled by the Office of Remigration, a relatively little-known State Department division established in May 2025.
The office is headed by diplomat Christian Jove Ehrhardt, who previously worked as a security officer.
The investigation examined his reported visits to Cameroon, which signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States in December 2025 concerning the acceptance of deportees.
The agreement was followed by a five-year health assistance programme reportedly worth nearly $400 million.
The US State Department subsequently announced an additional $30 million for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Cameroon, saying the funding would support voluntary refugee returns and efforts to combat illegal immigration.
The first reported flight carrying deportees under the arrangement arrived in Cameroon on January 14.
Some Countries Receive Payments
The arrangements have also involved financial payments to participating governments.
One example cited in the investigation is Palau, a Pacific island nation with a population of fewer than 18,000 people.
Palau reportedly agreed in December 2025 to accept as many as 75 third-country nationals in exchange for $7.5 million.
However, only three people had reportedly been transferred to the country under the arrangement at the time of the investigation.
In Eswatini, 32 people had reportedly arrived since July 2025 out of a possible 160 under an agreement valued at more than $5 million.
The investigation also reported that Eswatini had accepted some deportees with criminal records.
How The $410 Million Is Allocated
Internal US State Department records reviewed by Forbidden Stories reportedly showed that about $81 million of the planned $410 million was earmarked for governments that signed agreements with Washington.
The remaining funds were intended for humanitarian and international organisations involved in the arrangements.
More than $178 million was reportedly allocated to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), while approximately $123 million was earmarked for UNHCR.
The involvement of international agencies has attracted scrutiny because of their role in supporting aspects of the deportation arrangements.
UN Agencies Explain Their Roles
UNHCR told Forbidden Stories that it was not a party to the bilateral agreements between the United States and receiving countries.
The agency said US funding provided to it was being used in accordance with its mandate and to strengthen asylum systems.
The International Organization for Migration also defended its participation.
An IOM spokesperson told the investigative consortium that the organisation considers whether its involvement would improve conditions for affected migrants before accepting funding.
The agency said it believed its engagement in the arrangements would improve the lives of the migrants involved.
Growing Use Of Third-Country Deportations
The reported expansion of third-country deportations represents a significant development in US immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
Instead of returning certain migrants directly to their countries of origin, the arrangements allow the United States to transfer them to other countries that agree to receive them.
The agreements vary considerably in terms of the number of people accepted, nationalities covered, eligibility requirements and financial or development assistance attached to them.
The practice has also prompted questions from immigration lawyers and rights advocates about the legal protections available to people transferred to countries where they have no previous connection.
As the United States continues negotiating additional agreements, the number of countries participating and the number of migrants transferred under the arrangements could change.
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