US has deported 25,000 people to third countries under secretive deals, report shows

Since January 2025, the United States has deported more than 25,000 individuals to third-party nations under a series of secretive agreements. These deals involve 35 countries across Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific that accept migrants despite those individuals having no prior ties to the receiving nations. Approximately 20,000 of these deportations were directed to Mexico, with the remainder distributed among the other participating countries.

The policy was initiated following the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Washington is currently expanding the scope of these arrangements, having finalized agreements with seven additional countries to facilitate the transfer of migrants who cannot be legally returned to their countries of origin.