A rights group says the United States has expelled more than 500 migrants to African countries, calling the deportations unlawful and accusing authorities of exploiting suffering.
Key facts
- Human Rights Watch says the deportations are unlawful.
- More than 500 migrants have been expelled from the US to African countries.
- The figure is drawn from US data cited by the group.
- The group says the practice exploits suffering.
More than 500 migrants have been expelled from the United States to African countries, according to Human Rights Watch, which has described the practice as unlawful and said it exploits the suffering of those affected.
The rights group cited US data in reaching the figure of over 500 people expelled to African nations, according to the BBC.
Human Rights Watch framed the deportations as a violation, arguing that the policy is unlawful. The characterisation places the practice at the centre of a wider debate over how migrants are treated when removed from the United States.
The group’s assessment, as reported by the BBC, focuses both on the legality of the expulsions and on their human impact, with the organisation saying the approach exploits the hardship faced by migrants.
The BBC reported the rights group’s findings, which rest on US government data concerning the number of people sent to African countries.
Further detail on the specific countries involved, the circumstances of individual cases, and any official response was not included in the available source material.
Why it matters
The claims raise questions about the legality and ethics of US deportation practices and how migrants are treated after removal. As more than 500 people are reported to have been sent to African countries, the findings could fuel scrutiny of American immigration policy and its international consequences.
Frequently asked questions
How many migrants have been expelled to African countries?
Human Rights Watch says more than 500 migrants have been expelled from the US to African countries, citing US data, according to the BBC.
What does the rights group say about the deportations?
Human Rights Watch describes the deportations as unlawful and says the practice exploits suffering, as reported by the BBC.
Where did the figure come from?
According to the BBC, the figure of more than 500 people is based on US data cited by Human Rights Watch.

