The Trump administration has spent more than $44 million to forcibly transfer over 17,400 immigrants to at least 21 countries where they have no connections, according to a new report from Human Rights First and Refugees International. The policy, described as 'cruel and lawless,' sends individuals to nations where they face risks of torture, persecution, and indefinite detention.
Details of the Deportation Scheme
Immigrants from Latin America and other regions have been sent to countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, and South Sudan, often without notice. Many had been granted protection by U.S. immigration courts due to fears of persecution, but those protections are not recognized in third countries, leading to potential 'chain refoulement' back to their home countries.
Financial and Humanitarian Impact
The U.S. has pledged at least $44 million to over 30 countries to accept deportees, with agreements often kept secret. Countries like El Salvador and Rwanda have received millions to house immigrants in prisons or shelters. The report warns that these deals undermine international law and humanitarian protections.
Federal courts have attempted to block the policy, but appeals have allowed it to continue. Critics, including former officials and human rights groups, argue that the program wastes taxpayer money and endangers lives.
