U.S. Sends Latin American Migrants To Congo Under New Third-Country Deal
About 15 Latin American migrants were deported by the U.S. to the Democratic Republic of Congo under a new third-country deal this week.
The migrants, about 15 people, were described as Latin American nationals and were flown to the Democratic Republic of Congo, a central African country not their home region. U.S. officials said the transfer used a new third-country agreement to expand removal options when direct returns to migrants' home countries are not possible.
Details about the migrants' legal status, the terms of the agreement, and reception in Congo remain limited in initial reporting. Advocates and lawmakers are likely to scrutinize the policy's humanitarian and legal implications as more information becomes available.
đ Key Facts
- About 15 Latin American migrants deported from the U.S. arrived in Kinshasa, Congo, early Friday, April 17, 2026.
- Their lawyer says all are believed to have U.S. court protections against return to their home countries.
- Congo is receiving migrants under a new Trump administration third-country deal; a Senate report says at least $40 million has funded about 300 such deportations to non-native countries.
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