US Has Deported More Than 40,000 People to Countries Other Than Their Own, Reuters Reports
More than 40,000 people have been deported from the United States to countries other than their homelands since President Donald Trump returned to office. Reuters reported the figure on October 5, citing preliminary government data. The removals were carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. Around 900 people were sent to African countries.
These transfers are known as third-country deportations. Instead of returning someone to their country of origin, US authorities send them to another country under arrangements with its government. Reuters reported that this practice was uncommon before Trump’s second term. Its expanded use has raised concerns about migrants’ safety after removal.
The investigation documented 40 LGBT migrants who had received protection against persecution but were subsequently deported to African countries presenting additional risks. Some destinations criminalize same-sex relations, while others have documented abuses against LGBT people. Several deportees described detention, displacement or eventual forced return to their home countries. Their experiences illustrate the concerns surrounding protection after a third-country transfer.
The Department of Homeland Security defended third-country removals as a public safety measure and said immigration enforcement does not target people based on sexual orientation. The policy remains under legal challenge. Reuters reported that the Supreme Court allowed the removals to continue while it considers the dispute, with arguments scheduled for December. The reported total is preliminary and does not establish that any particular nationality faces automatic removal.