Congo Agrees to Receive U.S. Third‑Country Deportees Under Trump Program
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced it will begin receiving some migrants this month under the Trump administration’s third‑country deportation program, making it the latest African state to take in people being removed from the United States to countries that are not their own. Congo’s Ministry of Communications framed the deal as a "temporary" arrangement reflecting its commitment to "human dignity and international solidarity," and said the U.S. government will cover all logistics and costs. The article notes that Washington has already struck similar agreements with at least seven other African countries, and that a recent Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democratic staff report estimated the administration has spent at least $40 million to deport about 300 migrants to such third countries. Lawyers and advocates are raising alarms that some of those routed through these deals have U.S. immigration judge protection orders barring return to their home countries, and that several partner governments — including Eswatini, South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea — have poor human‑rights records, intensifying concern that the U.S. is offloading legal and moral obligations onto often‑repressive regimes.
📌 Key Facts
- Congo’s Ministry of Communications said Sunday it will receive some migrants deported from the U.S. starting later this month under a new third‑country arrangement.
- The Congolese government described the deal as 'temporary' and said there will be no cost to Congo, with the U.S. covering all logistics.
- A Democratic staff report from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee found the Trump administration has spent at least $40 million to deport about 300 migrants to third countries in Africa and elsewhere.
- Human‑rights lawyers say some migrants sent under these deals have U.S. protection orders against return to their home countries, and several partner states have repressive governments and poor rights records.
📊 Relevant Data
As of 2025, U.S. third-country deportations have included migrants from Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Mexico, South Sudan, and Cuba, who were sent to countries like Rwanda, often unrelated to their nationalities.
Deportation to Africa: From a Dream of Global Powerhouse to US Criminal Dumping Ground — Modern Diplomacy
The 2023 U.S. State Department Human Rights Report on the Democratic Republic of the Congo documents significant issues including unlawful killings, disappearances, physical abuse, destruction of property, and gender-based violence by government forces and armed groups.
CONGO, DEM REP 2023 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT — U.S. Department of State
Deportations of African migrants from the U.S. tripled under the second Trump term, with most having no criminal record according to ICE data from 2025.
Deportations of African Migrants Triple Under Trump's Second Term — Capital B News
Human Rights Watch's 2026 World Report notes that in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, armed groups like M23 committed war crimes including killings and indiscriminate shelling, putting civilians at risk, while government forces conducted extrajudicial executions.
World Report 2026: Democratic Republic of Congo — Human Rights Watch
Migrants deported to third countries by the U.S. have faced detention, arbitrary imprisonment, and further deportation to their home countries, with some alleging abuse as in the case of three men sent to Eswatini in 2025 who filed a lawsuit.
Eswatini says it received more 'third country' deportees as part of Trump immigration policy — The Guardian
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