US has deported more than 25,000 migrants to third countries, investigation finds

The United States has deported more than 25,000 migrants to countries with which many of them had no prior ties, according to an international investigation into Washington’s third-country deportation arrangements.

The investigation by Forbidden Stories and a consortium of journalists found that at least 25,447 people had been transferred to third countries by August 31, 2026.

The removals have taken place since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, as the US reached agreements with countries willing to receive migrants who could not legally be returned to their countries of origin.

Around 20,000 migrants were sent to Mexico, while thousands of others were transferred to countries across Latin America, Africa and the Pacific.

The investigation said Washington had reached arrangements with about 35 countries and had earmarked roughly $410 million for the programme, either through direct payments to governments or funding linked to international organisations involved in returns.

The policy has faced legal challenges in the United States.

A federal appeals court recently upheld a ruling that migrants must be given a meaningful opportunity to raise safety concerns before being deported to a third country.

The court rejected a policy that allowed rapid transfers without adequate opportunity for affected migrants to contest the destination.

The Trump administration has argued that third-country removals are necessary when migrants cannot be returned directly to their home countries.

Critics, however, have raised concerns about due process, transparency and the legal protections available to migrants transferred to countries where they have no previous connection.