Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday condemned the Trump administration’s “third-country removal” policy, which has sent people primarily to African countries where they have no connection:

Between January 20, 2025, and August 5, 2026, according to ICE data, the “third-country” deportation program transferred nearly 28,000 people to more than 50 countries that are neither their country of citizenship nor habitual residence, of whom 536 were sent to countries in Africa.

HRW reported that third-country removals to African countries rose from 103 to 536 from January 20, 2025 to August 5, 2026. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) adopted Resolution 645, aimed at eliminating migration partnerships that risk human rights violations, but many individuals still face human rights violations after removal to a third country. 

HRW urged the US Department of State to stop negotiating removal policies with countries that use arbitrary detainment or commit human rights violations. It also argued that the US Department of State should not coerce governments through the use of tariffs or visa issuance. Moreover, HRW recommended that the US Department of Homeland Security should bring third country nationals back to the US who had a deferral of removal to their home countries based on likelihood of torture or persecution. The US Department of Homeland security should also comply with § 241 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which outlines removal procedures, according to the organization.

President Trump signed Executive Order 14159 in January 2025, which allows removal proceedings to third countries against people who “present significant threats to national security and public safety” or commit acts like “economic espionage.” However, there is no clear methodology for whom is removed under the policy—for instance, people entering the US at borders, people detained after criminal offenses, and undocumented people living in the United States have all been removed.

In February 2026, the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts held that people need “meaningful notice” before removal proceedings. The First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the order, and the US Supreme Court stayed the order. The US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the third-country removal policy on December 9, 2026.