A Guardian investigation reports that thousands of people have been deported from the US to third countries under secret deals with dozens of governments, with detainees kept in the dark about their destinations.
Key facts
- The Guardian reports thousands have been deported from the US under secret deals with dozens of countries.
- An Iranian woman was deported to an African country she says she did not know existed.
- Detainees onboard immigration flights were reportedly not told where they were being taken.
- The investigation describes the arrangements as a 'show of force' costing American taxpayers millions.
Thousands of people have been deported from the United States to unfamiliar third countries under a series of secretive deals struck with dozens of governments, according to an in-depth investigation published by the Guardian.
The report opens with the account of an Iranian woman who, after a plane journey in shackles, says she found herself in the middle of Africa in a country she did not know existed. She is described as one of thousands removed from the US on the back of what the Guardian calls ‘shadowy deals.’
According to the investigation, detainees aboard US immigration flights were not told where they were being taken. The Guardian reports that officers in charge would taunt those who asked about their destination. In one case, 18 migrants only worked out where they were headed when a map appeared on the seat-back video screens onboard.
The Guardian characterises the arrangements as a ‘show of force’ and reports that the deportation operations are costing American taxpayers millions of dollars.
The investigation focuses on deals the outlet says were made with dozens of countries, though the full details of those agreements are described as secret. The report frames the practice as part of a broader deportation strategy under the Trump administration.
The Guardian’s account draws on the testimony of deported migrants to describe the conditions of their removal and their arrival in countries they were unfamiliar with. Further specifics of the individual agreements and the governments involved are set out in the full investigation.
Why it matters
The reported practice of sending deportees to unfamiliar third countries raises significant questions about transparency, due process and the treatment of people in US immigration custody. Because the deals are described as secret and taxpayer-funded, they also carry implications for public accountability and the human rights of those affected.
Frequently asked questions
Where are deportees being sent under these deals?
The Guardian reports that people have been deported to third countries under deals with dozens of governments. One woman featured in the investigation, an Iranian, was deported to an African country she says she did not know existed.
Were detainees told where they were being deported to?
According to the Guardian, detainees onboard US immigration flights were not told their destinations, and in one case 18 migrants only worked out where they were going when a map appeared on their seat-back screens.
Who is paying for the deportations?
The Guardian's investigation describes the operations as a 'show of force' costing American taxpayers millions of dollars.