Human Rights Watch has released a scathing evaluation accusing Washington of carrying out unlawful deportations by transferring migrants to third-party African nations where they hold no citizenship. According to the advocacy organization, these operations intentionally weaponize human distress to discourage future arrivals at the southern border.
The study indicates that over 500 individuals have been flown to various African countries since the administration of President Donald Trump resumed power in early 2025. These measures target people who cannot readily be returned to their native lands, leaving many with no viable alternative but to face potential dangers back home.
Federal officials vigorously defend the practice as a necessary component of national security. The Department of Homeland Security maintains that relocating individuals to alternate nations is crucial for clearing dangerous criminals from American communities. Authorities also assert that receiving governments provide diplomatic guarantees ensuring the safety of transferred individuals.
Investigators uncovered troubling conditions experienced by the deportees following their arrival. The rights organization documented instances of arbitrary confinement and mistreatment in several receiving states, including Eswatini, Ghana, and South Sudan.
Furthermore, the report highlights cases where individuals were subsequently pushed back into their countries of origin despite facing credible threats of persecution or physical abuse. This includes roughly a dozen individuals identifying as LGBTQ who had previously secured official protection inside the US because of risks tied to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Interviews conducted with 24 affected individuals across six nations revealed harsh treatment during transit as well. Migrants described being bound in chains for nearly a day without knowing their ultimate destination, alongside a lack of adequate food, water, and necessary medication.
Government officials in Eswatini recently reported that three individuals from Yemen, Belize, and Laos chose to leave voluntarily for their native countries. Eswatini authorities emphasized their dedication to upholding the fundamental rights and dignity of anyone transferred under these arrangements.
The advocacy group contends that these secretive arrangements run contrary to established international human rights standards. Researchers argue that the broader objective of the strategy is to intimidate prospective migrants by demonstrating that they could be abandoned in unfamiliar and dangerous environments.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.
