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US deports foreign nationals to African countries under third-party transfer agreements

Agreements with nations such as Liberia and the Central African Republic allow the transfer of migrants who cannot be returned to their home countries.

Updated Aug 24, 2026 · 02:16 UTC3 reports

The short version

  • The United States has begun flying deportees of various nationalities to African partner nations, including Liberia and the Central African Republic.
  • The policy targets individuals whose home nations restrict deportations or who have U.S. court protections against repatriation due to safety risks.
  • Transferred individuals report arriving without prior notice or documentation, while participating African governments state migrants may apply for asylum or leave freely.
  • Uncertainty remains over the ongoing conditions, legal recourse, and final destinations of deported migrants in receiving nations.

Key facts

  • Liberia received its first deportation flight of roughly 20 third-country nationals, mostly from Latin American countries such as Venezuela, Cuba, and Colombia, under an agreement to take up to 1,200 deportees over a year.[Fox News · CBS News]
  • Liberian officials stated that incoming deportees are treated as guests rather than criminals, will not be repatriated while protection claims are pending, and are eligible to apply for formal asylum.[Fox News]
  • The United States allocated $5 million to Liberia this year to assist with migration management activities.[Fox News]
  • Dozens of migrants from countries including Cuba, Eritrea, Ecuador, Honduras, Serbia, Russia, and Vietnam were previously sent to the Central African Republic, one of over 30 countries agreeing to accept third-country deportees.[CBS News]
  • Deportees in the Central African Republic reported that they were given no prior warning of their destination and are effectively stranded in Bangui without identity documents.[CBS News]
  • Human rights advocates argue that third-country removals violate international law, while the Trump administration defends the deals as lawful measures to deter unauthorized immigration.[CBS News]

What remains uncertain

  • The immediate whereabouts and status of a small group of deportees who reportedly resisted deplaning and re-entered the aircraft in Liberia remain unknown.[CBS News]
  • The specific terms of the agreement between the U.S. and the Central African Republic, including any reciprocal arrangements or financial support, have not been disclosed by the Department of Homeland Security.[CBS News]

Sources