Trump Administration Spent Over $30 Million on Third-Country Deportations, Report Finds
A new report from the Democratic chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee reveals that the Trump administration spent over $30 million to deport migrants to third countries. In some instances, the cost exceeded $1 million per person. The report, released Friday, highlights high-cost agreements made for the return of "relatively small numbers of third country nationals." It also alleges that the administration paid to deport migrants to a third country, only to later pay again to return them to their home country.
Total costs for these third-country deportations through January 2026 are estimated to surpass $40 million.
This report offers a comprehensive look at the administration’s third-country deportation agreements, addressing previous criticism regarding a lack of detailed information.
Cost Details and Destinations
The Trump administration pursued these deals as part of its broader deportation agenda, asserting that immigrants sent to third countries would not have been accepted by their home countries due to historical diplomatic challenges. Under these agreements, countries accept non-citizens from the US, often in exchange for money or political favors.
Agreements with or deportations to more than 20 countries have been identified, with deals pursued with dozens more. Five specific agreements — with Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, El Salvador, Eswatini, and Palau — collectively cost over $32 million. Much of this funding was provided as lump-sum payments, often before any third-country nationals arrived.
These five countries collectively received approximately 300 third-country nationals from the US.
For example, Rwanda reportedly received $7.5 million for seven nationals, costing over $1 million per deported individual.
Palau received a $7.5 million payment but has not accepted any third-country nationals due to local opposition. The report also notes the administration often used high-cost military aircraft for deportations, estimating over $7.2 million spent on such flights as of January 2026.
Concerns and Allegations
The report claims that over 80% of migrants sent to third countries for which the US paid, had either returned or were in the process of returning to their country of origin by January 2026. Instances cited include a Mexican national deported from the US to South Sudan and then flown back to Mexico, and a Jamaican individual sent to Eswatini (at an estimated cost of over $181,000) before being flown back to Jamaica weeks later.
The report suggests these deportations incur significant costs for US taxpayers and consume political capital in bilateral relationships that could be used for other national security interests. Lawmakers and human rights groups have expressed concerns regarding the human rights records of some recipient countries.
The Democratic report alleges the administration relied on general assurances that deportees would be treated in accordance with international human rights law. However, it states that Trump Administration officials acknowledged countries were not upholding these assurances and that the administration was not taking steps to address these violations. Committee staff reportedly heard from US officials in one country that they were instructed not to follow up on the treatment of deportees.
A November report by Human Rights Watch and Cristosal alleged that dozens of Venezuelans deported from the US to a Salvadoran prison earlier in the year experienced torture and other severe abuses, including sexual violence.
A federal judge recently ordered the Trump administration to implement a requirement to allow Venezuelans deported to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act to challenge their removal, potentially necessitating their return to the US for court proceedings.
Administration's Response
A Democratic committee aide indicated that while the administration provided some information, it did not offer a comprehensive briefing on the agreements. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson stated that “third country agreements, which ensure due process under the U.S. Constitution, are essential to the safety of our homeland and the American people.” State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the report “only underlines much of the unprecedented work that the Trump administration has done to enforce our immigration laws.”