US Secretly Deports Over 25,000 Migrants Under New Third-Party Deals

WASHINGTON: The United States has secretly deported more than 25,000 individuals under secretive bilateral agreements with 35 developing nations to accept migrants who lack legal ties to those countries, a global journalistic investigation revealed on Monday.

According to the findings published by the Forbidden Stories consortium, the Trump administration has earmarked $410 million in direct payments to receiving countries and UN agencies to facilitate these returns. Data compiled up to August 31, 2026, confirmed that exactly 25,447 people had been removed to third countries, with approximately 20,000 sent to Mexico alone, while others were dispersed across 27 nations in Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific.

This aggressive enforcement mechanism marks a significant escalation in Washington’s immigration policy, targeting individuals who cannot legally be repatriated to their countries of origin. Human rights organizations have raised serious legal and ethical concerns regarding the transparency of these third-country agreements, citing potential violations of international asylum protections and a lack of judicial oversight for the affected populations.

As international scrutiny intensifies over the funding mechanisms and human rights implications of these clandestine removals, human rights advocates and legal experts are pressing for full disclosure of the finalized pacts. Further investigative reports and congressional inquiries are expected as the administration continues to enforce its strict border policies.