Trump administration expands third-country deportations amid international human-rights backlash

After Donald Trump assumed the presidency in January 2025, his administration launched an aggressive immigration crackdown, resulting in thousands of daily arrests by the Department of Homeland Security. The policy emphasizes third-country deportations, sending asylum seekers to nations that have little cultural or legal connection to the United States, including El Salvador, Eswatini, Liberia and Cameroon. Rights organizations and the United Nations argue the practice breaches the UN Convention Against Torture and may expose deportees to further persecution.

While some courts have deemed the approach illegal, the Supreme Court upheld it in a recent September ruling. Data from the DHS and independent projects suggest more than 25,000 people have been forcibly transferred, a figure likely undercounted. Agreements with receiving countries often involve financial aid or visa extensions, yet many deportees lack basic documentation and face language barriers. The growing list of destination countries and the scale of the operation have sparked global concern over a potential cascade of human-rights violations.