The US government has expelled over 25,000 foreigners to third countries under secret agreements with 35 countries, according to an investigation by Forbidden Stories. The agreements, which were signed since January 2025, allow the US to send foreigners who cannot be legally returned to their home countries. The investigation, conducted by 72 journalists from 23 media outlets in 15 countries, found that the US has paid at least $410 million to countries and UN agencies to facilitate the transfers.
The US has signed agreements with countries in Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific to accept foreigners who cannot be returned to their home countries. According to the investigation, at least 25,447 people had been transferred to 28 countries by August 31, 2026, including around 20,000 to Mexico alone. The agreements vary in terms of the nationalities that can be accepted and the individuals with a criminal record.
The investigation found that 49 of 54 African countries were approached to accept expelled foreigners. An earlier investigation by AFP in early 2026 revealed that the US had put pressure on African countries to accept the expelled foreigners, including threats of tariffs, visa suspensions, and aid reductions. Lawyers told AFP that once in the host country, the expelled foreigners often fall into a "legal black hole," detained without being charged in an unfamiliar country, sometimes without access to their rights.
A little-known US State Department service, the Bureau of Remigration, created in May 2025, has led the negotiations and payments. The bureau is headed by Christian Jové Ehrhardt, a 41-year-old diplomat who has worked as a security attaché in several embassies. The investigation revealed that the US has made payments to governments and UN agencies, including $7.5 million to Palau, a Pacific island nation with less than 18,000 inhabitants, to accept 75 foreigners.
The US has also made payments to governments and UN agencies, including $400 million to the Cameroon government for health programs and $30 million to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to facilitate the voluntary return of refugees and combat illegal immigration. The first flight carrying expelled foreigners to Cameroon arrived on January 14. Other agreements have resulted in direct payments to governments, such as $5 million to Eswatini, an African country that has accepted foreigners with a criminal record.
The investigation raised concerns about the use of funds by UN agencies, including the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which have received $123 million and $178 million, respectively. While the UNHCR stated that it is not party to the agreements and uses the funds in accordance with its mandate, a spokesperson for the IOM acknowledged that the organization is aware that the US is using its financial assistance to promote its own priorities.
The US expulsion program has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it undermines human rights and the rule of law. The program has also raised concerns about the treatment of expelled foreigners in host countries, where they may face detention, exploitation, or other forms of mistreatment.
Key points
- The US has expelled over 25,000 foreigners to third countries under secret agreements with 35 countries.
- The agreements vary in terms of the nationalities that can be accepted and the individuals with a criminal record.
- The US has paid at least $410 million to countries and UN agencies to facilitate the transfers.
