Priyanka Tiwari
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The Trump administration is intensifying efforts to build a global deportation network, engaging with multiple nations across Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe to accept non-citizen migrants that the US aims to deport. The strategy reflects a push to reduce deportation backlogs and deliver on promises of mass removals, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Panama Operation Becomes Global Blueprint
In February, the US deported over 100 Middle Eastern migrants to Panama, which then detained the individuals and initiated repatriation. This operation is now being used as a model for broader global replication.
Countries currently in talks with the US include Libya, Rwanda, Benin, Eswatini, Moldova, Mongolia, and Kosovo. In exchange, these nations may receive financial incentives or diplomatic benefits. The administration is opting for informal arrangements, giving host nations the flexibility to determine how to handle deportees—whether through asylum, detention, or repatriation.
Pushing for ‘Safe Third Country’ Agreements
Alongside these efforts, the administration is negotiating “safe third country” pacts in Latin America. These would require asylum seekers to apply for refuge in countries like Honduras or Costa Rica rather than in the United States. Honduras is reportedly close to finalizing such a deal.
This broader immigration overhaul is spearheaded by Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff and the architect of several first-term immigration measures. He has urged officials to expand the list of partner countries and increase pressure on the State Department and DHS to find new deportation destinations—especially as some countries, including Venezuela, resist cooperation.
Human Rights Concerns and Legal Risks
The initiative has drawn criticism from human rights groups and former US officials, who caution that many potential partner nations have poor human rights records. Examples include:
Libya, where migrant detention centers have faced allegations of torture
Rwanda, known for political repression and refugee mistreatment
“The countries that might agree to these deals are often the most problematic,” said Ricardo Zuniga, a former National Security Council official.
No governments involved in the current negotiations have made public statements.
Wartime Powers Invoked to Expedite Deportations
In a legally controversial move, Trump invoked the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act in March to deport over 130 alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, framing the action as a wartime measure. A federal judge temporarily blocked the deportations, questioning the legality of the process.
Those deported are now reportedly held in El Salvador’s Cecot mega-prison, a facility emblematic of President Nayib Bukele’s harsh anti-crime policies.
Echoes of Past Plans and Global Parallels
This new initiative mirrors a similar effort from Trump’s first term, which saw migrants sent to Guatemala under an “asylum cooperative agreement.” That plan was short-lived due to the pandemic. The current strategy also draws from the UK’s 2022 deal with Rwanda, in which Britain allocated $155 million to send asylum seekers there. That deal collapsed after legal and political opposition.
Despite setbacks, Trump officials view these models as pathways to bypass domestic legal limitations on immigration enforcement.
Global Impact and Controversy Likely to Grow
As the Trump administration accelerates its second-term immigration crackdown, the attempt to create a global deportation framework is likely to face mounting legal, logistical, and ethical challenges. With nations pushing back and rights groups raising alarms, the plan’s long-term viability—and its potential impact on US immigration policy—remains uncertain.
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