What You Need to Know
A report by a major newspaper reveals that the Trump administration is paying millions to third countries, some accused of corruption and human rights violations, to accept migrants and deportees. This practice raises significant human rights concerns due to a lack of oversight and the inhumane conditions faced by those being deported.
Africa. A report published by a major newspaper confirms that the administration of President Donald Trump is paying millions of dollars to third countries, some of which are accused of corruption and human rights violations, to accept migrants and deportees who are not their citizens.
The newspaper’s correspondents, Toby Raji and Sami Westphal, note that this practice raises widespread human rights concerns due to the lack of oversight on the transferred funds and the inhumane conditions faced by the deportees.
The Trump administration asserts that reliance on “third-country deportation” is essential to remove deportees from the United States. However, lawyers interviewed by the newspaper agree that the legal basis for this policy is weak, and some of the original countries of the deportees have stated that they have not refused to accept their citizens.
The Trump administration uses money and exchanges to compel poor or authoritarian countries to accept migrants who do not belong to them, amid a lack of oversight on the use of funds and accusations of exposing deportees to inhumane conditions.
The report states that the administration pays these amounts without clear conditions or oversight on how they are used, raising human rights concerns as they resemble direct cash grants that are difficult to track, as noted by Nicole Weidrich from “Human Rights Watch.”
The report relied on the Washington Post’s review of copies of the agreements for the deportation of migrants that the Trump administration made with the relevant third countries, as well as legal documents and public records related to that.
Guinea
The report indicated that Washington paid $7.5 million to Equatorial Guinea to accept deportees, despite senior officials being accused of involvement in human trafficking according to an official U.S. State Department report. Senator Jeanne Shaheen issued a strong warning about the possibility of using the funds to bolster trafficking networks.
Shaheen pointed out that the amount exceeds the value of U.S. aid to this country over eight years and goes directly to the current government, which is accused of corruption and misusing public funds. The agreement did not confirm the number of deportees the country would accept.
Eswatini
The newspaper reported that Eswatini received $5.1 million to accept 160 individuals; however, many of the deportees remain detained without trial, and some have gone on hunger strikes in protest, such as Cuban Roberto Mosquera, who was hospitalized after his health deteriorated.
Eswatini stated under the agreement that the deportees would eventually be returned to their home countries. However, so far, only one person, Orville Itoria (62 years old), has been deported to his home country of Jamaica after being held in a high-security prison in Eswatini for more than two months.
The report noted that Eswatini itself is accused of serious violations, including torture and extrajudicial killings.
Lawyers confirmed that the United States has “washed its hands of responsibility,” even though at least 14 deportees remain imprisoned in Eswatini without charges or access to lawyers.
El Salvador
The report revealed that Washington deported more than 250 Venezuelans to a secure prison in El Salvador for $6 million. Some of the deportees were accused of being gang members, but most were not subjected to a clear trial or charges before being returned to Venezuela in exchange for the release of detained Americans.
The report clarified that part of the deportees were transferred under the “Enemy Aliens Act” during wartime, raising questions about the expansion of the use of exceptional laws for political purposes related to immigration.
Rwanda
Rwanda signed an agreement to accept 250 deportees for $7.5 million to enhance “its capacity to manage borders.” The agreement continues a previous U.S. policy where Washington paid amounts to accept deportees of various nationalities.
The report indicated that the deal was made during a U.S. role in peace mediation between Congo and Rwanda, prompting human rights advocates to question the intersection of these payments with political interests, especially since Rwanda is accused of supporting armed groups in Congo.
Ghana
The newspaper stated that Ghana agreed to accept, detain, and then deport dozens of deportees in exchange for economic exemptions and easing U.S. restrictions. Although the government justified the decision on the principle of African freedom of movement, human rights advocates revealed that some deportees were transferred to military camps without trial.
The Ghanaian government justified the agreement as an African solidarity step, noting that citizens of West African countries are allowed to enter Ghana and stay for 90 days without a visa. President John Mahama confirmed that accepting deportees falls under the principle of freedom of movement within the region.
According to the report, at least 42 individuals have been deported to Ghana since September, some of whom were later returned to their countries, while others were transferred to a military camp outside the capital, Accra.
The report concluded that the Trump administration uses money and exchanges to compel poor or authoritarian countries to accept migrants who do not belong to them, amid a lack of oversight on the use of funds and accusations of exposing deportees to inhumane conditions.
The practice of deporting migrants to third countries has been a contentious issue in U.S. immigration policy. Historically, various administrations have sought to manage immigration flows through agreements with other nations, often involving financial incentives. However, the Trump administration’s approach has drawn criticism for its reliance on countries with questionable human rights records, raising ethical and legal questions about the treatment of deported individuals.
