Internal government documents obtained by CBS News reveal that the Trump administration has significantly expanded its third country deportation campaign, sending more than 100 people to eight different African nations over a ten day period. These individuals, hailing from countries as diverse as Afghanistan, Cuba, Nicaragua, Iran, and Venezuela, were flown to destinations including Burundi, Cameroon, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone. None of the deportees originated from the countries where they were dropped off, highlighting a strategy designed to banish migrants to far flung regions regardless of whether they have existing ties to those locations.
The scope of these operations involves secretive agreements between the United States and over 30 countries globally. While some partners include Latin American nations like Costa Rica and Panama, a growing number of African states have entered similar deals. Some of these recipients, such as the Central African Republic and South Sudan, are currently plagued by severe political instability and human rights abuses. The U.S. State Department even maintains a Level 4 travel advisory for the Central African Republic, warning citizens to avoid all travel due to widespread violence and the presence of Russian mercenaries.
Among those caught in this sweep was Khalil, a twenty four year old Afghan man whose family had assisted American military forces in the fight against the Taliban. Although an immigration judge granted him withholding of removal after finding he faced persecution in his homeland, this specific legal protection does not bar deportation to a third country. Consequently, Khalil was sent to the Central African Republic despite warnings from his attorney and a former Marine colonel that he remains a target for Taliban militants. This case underscores a broader effort by the current administration to bypass traditional refugee protections through these unconventional relocation deals.
Responding to inquiries about these practices, the Department of Homeland Security stated that when undocumented immigrants refuse to return to their home countries via court claims, the government is legally obligated to find another safe nation for them. Officials characterized it as a choice between receiving financial assistance and a flight home or being relocated elsewhere. However, critics argue that this approach effectively dismantles global refugee systems by placing vulnerable people in unstable environments where they possess no support networks or legal standing.
