UN Experts Demand End to US Third-Country Deportations

Twenty-four independent experts from the United Nations Human Rights Council have demanded an immediate end to the United States government's policy of deporting migrants to third countries. Since 2025, the administration has paid 35 foreign governments, primarily in Africa, to accept refugees and asylum seekers who possess no prior ties to those nations.

Reports indicate that approximately 20,000 people were bussed to Mexico, while over 5,000 were flown to regions including Central Asia and Africa. UN experts warn the scheme triggers a "cascade of human rights violations," leaving vulnerable populations exposed to slavery, torture, and enforced disappearances. Specific reports from Equatorial Guinea describe migrants being beaten and bound.

President Donald Trump maintains that the deportations are lawful and target criminals. However, critics argue the Department of Homeland Security is using the policy to bypass legal protections that prevent returning asylum seekers to countries where they face persecution. The administration has petitioned the Supreme Court of the United States to maintain the policy after lower courts ruled the practice unlawful.