In brief
Human Rights Watch’s latest report documents that the United States has deported over 500 undocumented migrants to African nations since 2025, breaching international law and the principle of non‑refoulement. Victims report arbitrary detention, abusive treatment on transit flights and a genuine risk of persecution in their home countries. The US Department of Homeland Security defends the practice as a public‑safety tool, but critics argue it is a cruel deterrent that fails to respect human‑rights obligations. HRW calls on the U.S. to halt these transfers and to provide lawful, safe migration routes.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) says the deportation of migrants from the United States to third‑party African states is illegal and constitutes a cruel tactic designed to deter migration.
HRW’s report, citing United States data, finds that more than 500 people have been sent to nations where they are not citizens since former President Donald Trump returned to office in 2025.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains that "third‑country removals are an essential public safety tool that removes the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens from our streets." Trump’s campaign promised a tough immigration stance, and the policy appears to have been enacted.
Examples from Eswatini, Ghana and South Sudan illustrate the violations. Deportees were arbitrarily detained, denied basic necessities and, in some cases, sent to countries where they face persecution, torture or criminal charges. HRW notes that at least a dozen LGBT migrants were sent to states that criminalise same‑sex relationships.
In multiple accounts, deportees describe abusive treatment on flights: chained for up to 18 hours, unaware of their destination, denied medication and often insufficient food and water. Some were immediately sent back to their home countries, risking imprisonment or worse.
HRW calls the "opaque deals" that facilitate these transfers a violation of international human‑rights law and stresses that the principle of non‑refoulement is being ignored. The report urges U.S. authorities to halt such transfers and to provide safe and legal pathways for migrants.
