Thousands of migrants have been transferred to countries where they are not citizens, with African nations emerging as a growing destination for people removed from the United States.

Washington DC, United States — The United States has deported thousands of migrants to countries other than their own, including several African nations, under an expanding immigration enforcement policy that has raised concerns among human rights organizations and United Nations experts.

An analysis of US Department of Homeland Security data by Al Jazeera recorded more than 16,000 third-country deportations between January 2025 and August 2026.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), drawing on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data and other records, reported a higher figure, estimating that nearly 28,000 people had been transferred to more than 50 countries by August 5, 2026.

The difference reflects variations in the datasets and definitions used to track the transfers, rather than a single agreed total.

The figures highlight the scale of a policy that has increasingly involved African governments in Washington’s efforts to remove migrants from the United States.

African Countries Receive Migrants Deported From the United States

According to Human Rights Watch, third-country transfers have been documented to several African countries, including Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ghana, Sierra Leone and South Sudan.

Uganda has also participated in a separate asylum cooperation arrangement with the United States.

The receiving countries have taken in migrants of different nationalities, many of whom have no citizenship ties to the destinations where they were transferred.

In Cameroon, authorities had received 46 people across five flights by September, while the Central African Republic received at least three groups of deportees between June and August.

Eswatini, a small Southern African kingdom, had received 32 people on five flights.

The arrangements have drawn attention to the growing role of African countries in US immigration enforcement, particularly as questions emerge over the treatment and legal status of those transferred.

Migrants From Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia and Other Countries Affected

The people transferred under the third-country deportation policy come from a wide range of countries.

Those sent to African destinations have included nationals of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia and Sudan, among others.

Some of the individuals had previously been granted protection by US immigration judges against deportation to their countries of origin because of concerns that they could face persecution or torture.

Their subsequent transfer to third countries has raised questions about whether those protections are being adequately maintained.

Human rights organizations have warned that migrants may face additional risks when sent to countries where they have limited personal connections, uncertain immigration status or inadequate access to legal assistance.

Human Rights Watch Warns of Detention and Persecution Risks

Human Rights Watch has criticized the third-country deportation programme, raising concerns about the treatment of migrants after their removal from the United States.

The organization said it interviewed people transferred to six African countries, including individuals who had previously received protection in the United States because of fears of persecution linked to their nationality, political opinions or sexual orientation.

UN experts and human rights advocates have also expressed concern that the policy could expose migrants to arbitrary detention, persecution and other serious harm.

A central issue is whether individuals have a meaningful opportunity to challenge their transfer and whether receiving countries can guarantee their safety.

Critics argue that deporting people to unfamiliar countries can create legal uncertainty, particularly when their right to remain, work or seek protection in the receiving country is unclear.

The concerns are especially significant for individuals whose removal to their home countries has already been restricted by US immigration courts.

US Government Defends Deportation Policy Amid Legal Challenges

The United States has defended its broader deportation campaign as part of its responsibility to enforce immigration laws.

Washington’s use of third-country transfers, however, remains controversial and has faced legal challenges over the rights of migrants and the procedures used to carry out removals.

The US Supreme Court has allowed the administration to continue certain third-country transfers while related litigation proceeds.

The legal disputes have focused attention on the protections available to people facing removal, particularly those who fear persecution or torture.

While the government maintains that immigration enforcement is a legitimate exercise of federal authority, human rights organisations argue that deportation procedures must comply with legal safeguards and international obligations.

US Deportation Agreements Put African Governments in the Spotlight

The expanding network of countries receiving deportees has also brought diplomatic attention to Washington’s relationships with African governments.

Countries participating in third-country arrangements face questions about the legal status, accommodation and treatment of people transferred to their territory.

The policy also raises broader concerns about the responsibilities of receiving states, particularly when migrants have no established connection to the country.

For African governments, the arrangements place immigration cooperation with the United States alongside domestic legal and human rights considerations.

Although the circumstances differ between countries, the increasing number of transfers has made Africa an important part of the debate over Washington’s deportation strategy.

Third-Country Deportations Remain Under Scrutiny

As the United States continues its immigration enforcement campaign, third-country deportations remain the subject of legal proceedings and international scrutiny.

The differing figures reported by Al Jazeera and Human Rights Watch illustrate the challenges of establishing a comprehensive picture of the program, including how many people have been transferred and where they have been sent.

For human rights organisations, the central concern remains the safety and legal protection of migrants removed to countries other than their own.

The outcome of ongoing legal challenges, alongside the actions of receiving governments, will help determine how the policy develops and what safeguards apply to those affected.

With African countries increasingly involved in these arrangements, the issue is becoming an important part of both US immigration policy and Washington’s diplomatic relations across the continent.