US Deportations to African Nations Draw Global Human‑Rights Outrage

Fri Oct 09 2026 00:07:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Human Rights Watch says US deportations to third‑party African countries violate international law and use suffering as a deterrent.

Human Rights Watch has warned that the Trump‑era administration’s policy of sending migrants to African nations where they face death, torture or persecution breaches the non‑refoulement principle. More than 500 deportees have been placed in places such as Eswatini, Ghana and South Sudan, often after months of arbitrary detention and poor treatment. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defends the practice as a public‑safety tool, while the White House insists it is a voluntary option for those wishing to return home. Reports detail abusive flight conditions, chained inmates and denial of food, water and medication. The policy has sparked criticism from migrant advocates and has forced several African countries to reconsider accepting the deportees.

US Deportations to African Nations Draw Global Human‑Rights Outrage

By Basillioh Rukanga | 8 October 2026

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers escort a migrant across a border

The United States has been sending thousands of migrants who cannot be deported to their home countries to third‑party African nations, a practice that Human Rights Watch (HRW) says violates international law and exploits the suffering of those transferred. According to HRW’s most recent report, more than 500 people have been handed over to countries such as Eswatini, Ghana and South Sudan since the 2025 Trump administration took office.

HRW’s findings show that many of the deportees have no realistic option but to return to places where they can face persecution, torture or even death. In several cases, primary destinations include Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Ghana, where migrants were often arbitrarily detained or flown directly back to their home countries after brief stays.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defends third‑country removals by claiming they remove the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens from U.S. streets. DHS officials have assured that destination countries provide diplomatic guarantees that the migrants will be “safe” once they are no longer in ICE custody.

White House spokesperson Lauren Bis has stated that the policy is intended for migrants whose home nations have refused to accept them or who have court orders preventing return. She added that every eligible “illegal alien” who wishes to go home will be offered a free flight and a $3,000 check.

HRW’s accompanying interview with 24 third‑country nationals in six countries revealed stories of abuse that included being chained for 18 hours, fighting a lack of essential medication, and being denied sufficient food and water during transit. Some individuals were once protected based on LGBT status and were sent to countries where same‑sex relationships are criminalised.

Reports also indicate that several African countries have hastily closed borders or forced deportees back to their countries of origin, signalling a potential violation of the principle of non‑refoulement, which prohibits sending people to a nation where they face torture, cruel treatment or threats to life and liberty.

While Eswatini has pledged to protect the rights and dignity of third‑country nationals, it remains unclear how many migrants it has successfully returned to safe homes. Other African states such as Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and South Sudan have been implicated in the detention and ill‑treatment of those handed over by the United States.

The policy, which Republicans touted as a key element of the 2024 election, has drawn international condemnation and raised urgent questions about the U.S.’s adherence to human‑rights obligations.