Since Donald Trump's return to the White House in January 2025, the United States has transferred at least 25,447 people to 28 third countries. This is according to an investigation by the international journalistic consortium Forbidden Stories, published on September 21, 2026. Nearly 20,000 of these expulsions were carried out to Mexico. The US is multiplying agreements with third countries to transfer people who, for various reasons, cannot be sent directly back to their country of origin.
The investigation, carried out with 72 journalists from 23 media outlets in 15 countries, reveals that the US has concluded or negotiated arrangements with 35 states since Trump's return to power. The conditions of reception vary from one agreement to another, particularly concerning the nationalities admitted and the judicial antecedents of the expelled people. In Africa, 49 of the 54 countries would have been approached by Washington to host nationals from third countries.
A mechanism led by the State Department, the Office of Remigration, a service created in May 2025, has conducted most of the negotiations. This structure is also responsible for managing the payments related to the agreements. It is led by diplomat Christian Jové Ehrhardt. Cameroon is among the countries concerned, having signed a protocol with Washington in December 2025 to host expelled people.
The agreement with Cameroon was concluded a few weeks after the conclusion of a US aid program for health worth nearly $400 million over five years. Other states have obtained financing in exchange for their participation. The Palau, a Pacific archipelago with less than 18,000 inhabitants, has accepted to host up to 75 nationals from third countries in exchange for $7.5 million.
By August 31, 2026, only three people had been transferred to the Palau. In Eswatini, 32 people have arrived since July 2025, out of a contingent that can reach 160 people. The agreement represents more than $5 million and would have allowed the reception of people with criminal antecedents. In total, $410 million would have been provided by Washington to finance these different devices.
According to internal documents consulted by Forbidden Stories, $81 million must go directly to the signatory governments. The rest of the funds is intended for international organizations, including over $178 million for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and $123 million for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The involvement of these two UN agencies is however the subject of criticism. The UNHCR claims not to be part of the bilateral agreements and indicates using American financing in accordance with its mandate, particularly to strengthen asylum systems. For its part, the IOM says it accepts these financings when they allow, according to her, to improve the situation of the migrants concerned.
Key points
- The US has transferred at least 25,447 people to 28 third countries since Donald Trump's return to the White House in January 2025.
- The transfers have been carried out under agreements with 35 states, with conditions of reception varying from one agreement to another.
- The policy has been criticized by jurists, who estimate that the people transferred to countries with which they have no link can find themselves in a "legal black hole".
