Tracking All of Trump’s Known Third-Country Removals
Bookmark this post, it will be updated.
This is a comprehensive list of all known third-country removals since President Trump’s second term began on Jan. 20, 2025. Before then, third-country deportations were rare.
I am using the term “third-country removals” instead of “third-country deportations,” because the latter is a legal process in which a migrant is resettled in a safe third country. What is actually happening, in nearly all cases, more closely resembles chain refoulement, rendition, or kidnapping – and often violates domestic and international law. Below I have included every known instance of American immigration authorities handing over a migrant to a third country without the migrant's uncoerced consent.
These removals are listed in reverse chronological order. Some “host” countries, like Rwanda, have accepted third-country nationals multiple times; in these cases, they appear by the date of the first known instance of third-country removal.
The Trump administration has reportedly signed third-country host agreements with a number of other countries, including Guyana and Palau; they are not listed here since removals to these countries are not known to have happened yet. Similarly, the attempted third-country removal to Libya on May 7, 2025, is not listed here since it was stopped by court order.
I am also not including the 16+ flights deporting Venezuelans via Honduras between Feb. and Aug. 2025, because the migrants on these flights were not transferred to the custody of a third country. The flights landed at a US military base, where the migrants boarded Venezuelan planes for the last leg of their return to Venezuela.
Because the Trump administration rarely confirms third-country removals, information about them primarily comes from court filings, flight tracking, media reports and information provided by host countries or human-rights groups. It is possible, and perhaps probable, that there are instances of third-country removals not yet known to the public. Recently, Refugees International and Human Rights First have also started their Third-Country Deportation Watch here.
If you notice any errors or missing information, or if you would like to share information about third-country removals, please email me at gbrockell at proton dot me or message me on signal at gbrockell.44.
I believe these removals are legally and morally wrong, and I hope the information gathered here will someday be useful in bringing justice to the people who committed them and the people subjected to them.
Last updated on April 28, 2026, with new information about the people sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
PARAGUAY
Date(s): April 22-23, 2026
Who: Sixteen migrants of unknown nationalities, according to Reuters.
How: Via an Airbus A320 (N278GX) operated by GlobalX.
Imprisoned: Unknown.
Deal: Paraguay and the State Department signed an agreement in August, made public in December. It is unknown if Paraguay is receiving payment, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated it was getting economic concessions and military assistance.
Now: Under the terms of the agreement, all of the migrants should be eligible to apply for protection from removal to their home countries in Paraguay, but protection is not guaranteed.
More: Reuters: Paraguay receives 16 third-country migrants deported from the US
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Date(s): April 17, 2026
Who: Fifteen men and women from Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador, some of whom were legal asylum-seekers.
How: Via a Boeing 767 (N207AX) operated by Omni Air International.
Imprisoned: They are reportedly being detained at a hotel.
Deal: Details of the deal have not been made public, but a Congolese communications minister said the US will be paying all of their expenses.
Now: The migrants are staying at a rat-infested motel near the airport, which authorities have discouraged them from leaving because of the security situation in DRC, according to NPR. They have told several journalists they are being pressured to return to their home countries, despite the dangers US courts agreed they would face if they do.
More: NPR: ‘We don't know what will happen to us’: US deportees in limbo in DRC
Al Jazeera: South American migrants deported to DRC facing pressure to return home
Associated Press: About 15 Latin American people deported to Congo by the US
UGANDA
Date(s): April 2, 2026
Who: Twelve migrants of unknown nationalities, according to Reuters; eight migrants of African nationalities, according to a Uganda government statement. The reason for the discrepancy is unclear.
How: Via a Gulfstream V (N62FF) operated by Journey Aviation.
Imprisoned: Unknown.
Deal: The US and Uganda signed an agreement last July, with Uganda agreeing to accept migrants who do not have criminal records and with a preference for African migrants. It is unclear what Uganda is receiving in return.
Now: The Uganda Law Society told Reuters the migrants had been subjected to an “undignified, harrowing, and dehumanizing process,” and it planned to challenge the legality of their removal in court.
More: Reuters: Twelve deportees from US arrive in Uganda, Law Society says
ISRAEL
Dates(s): Jan. 21, 2026, Feb. 1, 2026
Who: Jan. 21 flight: Eight Palestinians, including 47-year-old Sameer Isam Aziz Zeidan and 24-year-old Maher Awad, according to the Guardian; Feb. 1 flight: Unknown
How: Via a Gulfstream IV (N352BH) operated by Journey Aviation. Journey leases the aircraft from Israeli-American billionaires who built luxury condos with Trump and was previously used to transfer third-country nationals to a prison in Eswatini, which I reported for Zeteo last October.
Imprisoned: The migrants appear to have been shackled as they departed the aircraft, according to a photo obtained by Haaretz. Awad told the Guardian they were taken to a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank by Israeli authorities and dumped on the side of the road.
Deal: Unknown.
Now: The eight men in the first group contacted relatives and are now figuring out their next moves. Awad has a newborn son he has never met.
More: Haaretz: U.S. Deports Eight Palestinians to West Bank Using Private Jet
CAMEROON
Date(s): Jan. 15, 2026; Feb. 16, 2026
Who: Jan. 15: Nine men and women from Angola, Ghana, DRC, Morocco, and Zimbabwe, at least some of whom had withholding of removal orders, according to Refugees International/Human Rights First. Feb. 16: Unknown
How: Via Boeing 767s (N207AX and N225AX) operated by Omni Air International.
Imprisoned? Yes. The first group told the New York Times they were being held at a government compound and pressured to return to their countries of origin.
Deal: Unknown.
Now: As of mid-February, two of the nine in the first group have returned to their countries of origin, according to NYT, and illegal practice called chain refoulement.
More: NYT: US Deports Nine Migrants in Secret, Ignoring Legal Protections
DW: Donald Trump’s Latest Visa Ban Hits African Countries Hard
ECUADOR
Date(s): Monthly since January 2026.
Who: An unknown number of migrants from Latin American and Caribbean countries, mostly Cuba and Venezuela.
How: ICE flights operated by Global X, Eastern Airlines, and Omni Air International regularly land in Ecuador. It is unclear so far which ones have carried third-country nationals.
Imprisoned: Unclear.
Deal: The program is part of a larger negotiations between Ecuador and the US, including a $20 million security assistance pledge, relief from tariffs, the deployment of the US Air Force for a joint military operation allegedly targeting drug traffickers.
Now: More than 4,700 asylum-seekers have been designated for removal to Ecuador, according to Third Country Deportation Watch.
More: CNN: US working with Ecuador on agreement to send asylum seekers to the country
KUWAIT
Date(s): Dec. 7, 2025, Jan. 25, 2026
Who: Dec. 7: Approximately 55 Iranians, who had entered the US through the southern border and were detained until their asylum claims were denied, according to Iranian officials. Jan. 25: 40 Iranian asylum-seekers and other detained migrants, according to Iranian officials
How: Via a Boeing 767 (N207AX) operated by Omni Air International to Kuwait, and likely an Airbus A320 (9K-AKR) operated by Kuwait Airways to Tehran.
Imprisoned? Unknown, but like other transfer deportations in Qatar and Egypt, the migrants were likely forced onto the flight to Tehran by Kuwaiti authorities.
Deal: Unknown.
Now: About 2,000 Iranians may be deported via transfer through a third country, according to the New York Times.
More: NYT: US Deports Second Planeload of Iranians, Officials Say
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Date(s): Nov. 24, 2025 and Jan. 22, 2026
Who: On Nov. 24, nine men from Angola, Ghana, Eritrea, Georgia and one Mauritanian named Diadie Camara. All were asylum-seekers with no criminal convictions, according to Alicante. On Jan. 22, 20 migrants from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Nigeria and other African countries. The Jan. 22 flight also included one Equatoguinean.
How: In November, via a Gulfstream V (N996GA) operated by Journey Aviation; on Jan. 22 via a Boeing 767 (N351AX) operated by Omni Air International.
Imprisoned? Yes. Fortunately, they are being held in a hotel, not in one of Equatorial Guinea's torture prisons. Information about conditions inside the hotel or how they are being treated is not available.
Deal: In early November, the AP reported a $7.5 million payment to Equatorial Guinea from State Department funds allotted for humanitarian crises. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) has questioned the legality of the payment.
Now: Eight of the nine men on the first flight have been returned to their countries of origin. Camara, the Mauritanian man, was refouled through Morocco; he fears being returned to the chattel slavery system he escaped and is now in hiding, according to RI/HRF. The Eritrean man is so afraid of being repatriated he has applied for asylum in Equatorial Guinea. Equatoguinean human rights attorney Tutu Alicante told me he expects the second group will also be returned to their countries of origin.
More: The Guardian: US has sent $7.5m to Equatorial Guinea to accept noncitizen deportees
The Guardian: Dozens of islanders locked up as grim history continues for Equatorial Guinea
POLAND
Date(s): Nov. 17, 2025; March 16, 2026 (likely)
Who: Nov. 17: Fifty Ukrainian nationals, some of whom have lived in the US since they were children. Many feared being drafted into the Ukrainian military. March 16: Unknown.
How: Nov. 17: Via a Boeing 767 (N423AX) operated by Omni Air International to Poland. From Poland to Ukraine via unknown ground transportation. March 16: Via two Gulfstream Vs (N588TN and N86MS) operated by Journey Aviation.
Imprisoned? No.
Deal: Unclear.
Now: The migrants on the first flight were transferred by ground to Ukraine. The fate of the migrants on the second group of flights is unclear. Domestic and international law bars removal to a place where a migrant fears violence or persecution, which includes active warzones.
More: NPR: U.S. deports dozens of migrants to Ukraine amid war
GUATEMALA
Date(s): Oct. 10, 2025
Who: Three Honduran nationals put on a flight with Guatemalan deportees, according to the Guatemalan government. It is unclear if any had court orders prohibiting their deportation to Honduras. There were two ICE flights to Honduras the same day.
How: Because there were three ICE flights to Guatemala that day, it is unclear which one held the Honduran nationals – a Boeing 737 (N803XT) operated by Avelo Airlines, or an Airbus A321 (N966AD) and an Airbus A320 (N628VA) operated by GlobalX.
Imprisoned? Unlikely.
Deal: The US agreed to pay for the third-country nationals' return to their countries of origin.
Now: The Guatemalan government said they were transported to the border with Honduras and repatriated. More third-country nationals are expected.
More: Al Jazeera: First US flight with third-country deportees arrives in Guatemala
QATAR
Date(s): Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2025
Who: Approximately 55 Iranian nationals, at least one of whom was a Christian convert, another was a political dissident and ethnic minority and was forced onto the flight. Some had pending asylum hearings, others' asylum claims had been rejected. A DHS official said some had criminal convictions, an unverifiable claim DHS frequently makes, sometimes falsely.
How: From the US to Qatar via a Boeing 767 (N819AX) operated by Omni Air International. From Qatar to Iran via a Boeing 787 (A7-BCJ) operated by Qatar Airways.
Imprisoned? Briefly, by Qatari authorities, who beat and dragged them onto the Qatar Airways flight.
Deal: The Trump administration said the Iranian government had agreed not the harm the migrants upon their return, though there is no mechanism in place to ensure their safety.
Now: Many of the migrants told NYT they have been contacted by Iranian authorities for interrogation. Some say family members are being harassed. At least one has fled to a neighboring country and is in hiding.
More: ‘It Feels Like I'm in a Nightmare’: Inside the First Deportation Flight to Iran
NYT: U.S. Deports Planeload of Iranians After Deal With Tehran, Officials Say
GHANA
Date(s): Sept. 5-6, 2025; Sept. 10-11, 2025; Oct. 12-13, 2025, Nov. 6, 2025
Who: On Sept. 5, 14 men from Nigeria and the Gambia with credible fear orders preventing deportation to their countries of origin. A DHS official told me “some” had criminal records, but this cannot be independently verified. In a court filing, one man said he was “straitjacketed for several hours” during the trip after asking to speak to his attorneys. On Sept. 10, a second group of 14 migrants from Nigeria, Liberia, Togo and perhaps Mali, who also appear to have been asylum-seekers. At least two said they were green card holders who had completed prison sentences for fraud. On Oct. 12, a third group of 14 West Africans of unknown immigration statuses. On Nov. 6, 19 West Africans, including Rabiatu Kuyateh, a 58-year-old grandmother from Sierra Leone who had been in the U.S. for more than 30 years.
How: On Sept. 5 via a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster (03-3127) flying with its ADS-B signal turned off. On Sept. 10, Oct. 12, Nov. 5 via Boeing 767s (N486AX, N207AX and N225AX) operated by Omni Air International.
Imprisoned? The first group was imprisoned in an open-air military camp for several weeks.
Deal: The Trump administration agreed to lift visa restrictions on Ghanaians, consider extending a trade deal and reevaluate its 15% tariff on Ghana.
Now: The deal has been challenged by a human-rights attorney in Ghana’s Supreme Court; the next hearing is expected in mid-November. Ghana said all of the men in the first group were returned to their countries of origin, though attorneys for several of the men disputed this. The Gambian man, who fears persecution because he is bisexual, is in hiding. The second group told journalists they were driven to the border with Togo and forced to cross without their passports or other ID. As of Sept. 29, they are in hiding in Togo. Little is known about the status of the third and fourth groups.
More: Rolling Stone: ICE Is Deporting People to Africa on Nearly Un-Trackable Military Flights
AP: Ghana says African immigrants deported by the US have returned home
ENCA: West Africans deported by US to Ghana dumped in Togo without papers
Ghana Web: 'React in two weeks' - Supreme Court orders AG in suit over US deportation to Ghana
EGYPT
Date(s): Aug. 26, 2025; Dec. 7, 2025; Jan. 25, 2026. Likely also Dec. 6, 2025, Feb. 11, 2026, and March 29, 2026. Plus one other unidentified flight in early summer 2025.
Who: The confirmed flights all held Russian migrants, including dissidents and asylum-seekers. The Aug. 26 flight included dissident Artem Vovchenko. There is no information available about the migrants on the ICE flights on Dec. 6 or Feb. 11, but they were likely also third-country nationals.
How: On Aug. 26, from the US to Egypt via a Boeing 777 (N846AX) operated by Omni Air International; from Egypt to Russia likely via a Boeing 737 (SU-GED) operated by Egyptair. On Dec. 7, from the US to Egypt via a Boeing 767 (N207AX) operated by Omni Air International; from Egypt to Russia via an Airbus A330 (SU-GDV) operated by Egyptair. Jan. 25, from the US to Egypt via a Boeing 767 (N351AX) operated by Omni Air International; from Egypt to Russia via an A330 (SU-GDT) operated by Egyptair. On Dec. 6 and Feb. 11, via Gulfstream V jets (N588AT and N588TN) operated by Journey Aviation. On March 29, from US to Egypt via a Boeing 787 (SU-GET) operated by Egyptair, from Egypt to Russia via a Boeing 737 (SU-GCZ) operated by Egyptair.
Imprisoned? Yes, for several hours by Egyptian authorities, who forced them onto the plane to Russia.
Deal: Unknown
Now: Upon arrival in Russia, at least two people, including Vovchenko, were taken into custody and cannot be located, according to witnesses.
More: TPM: Trump Admin Returns Russian Dissidents to Putin
NYT: He Fled Putin's War. The US Deported Him to a Russian Jail.
ESWATINI
Date(s): July 15-16, 2025; Oct. 4-6, 2025; March 11-12, 2026
Who: In July, five men from Cuba, Laos, Vietnam and Yemen, plus Jamaican national Orville Etoria, who had all completed prison sentences in the US. At least three had been released into the community without incident before being detained by ICE and sent to Eswatini. DHS claimed their countries had refused to take them back, but attorneys for the men, and at least one of the countries, deny this. In October, a second group of 10 migrants from Cambodia, Chad, Congo, Cuba, Ethiopia, Haiti, the Philippines and Vietnam. In March, four people – one each from Tanzania and Sudan, plus two from Somalia.
How: In July, from the US to Djibouti via a Gulfstream V (N588AT) operated by Journey Aviation. From Djibouti to Eswatini via an Air Force C-17 Globemaster (02-1107) flying with its transponder signal turned off. In October, via a Gulfstream IV (N352BH) operated by Journey Aviation. In March, via a Gulfstream V (N59JE) operated by Talon Air.
Imprisoned? Yes, in solitary confinement in a maximum-security prison used for political prisoners, who have previously reported beatings and denial of food.
Deal: Eswatini received $5.1 million from the US to take up to 160 people, according to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Now: Etoria was repatriated to Jamaica in September. Cambodian national Pheap Rom was repatriated on March 24. American and liSwati lawyers for the remaining men say they are being denied access to their clients and have been told only the US embassy can grant them access. In March 2026, Etoria, the Yemeni man and one of the Cuban nationals sued the Eswatini government, according to the Guardian.
More: ICE’s Eswatini flight went through US base in Djibouti; Americans stationed there are angry
Mother Jones: ICE Is Sending People to a Prison in Africa's Only Absolute Monarchy
NYT: U.S. Deportee Sent to Africa Is Repatriated by Jamaica
SOUTH SUDAN
Date(s): May 20-July 4, 2025
Who: Seven men originally from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Sudan and Vietnam. (An eighth man removed with this group is from South Sudan.) DHS said the men had been convicted of serious crimes in the US, had completed their sentences, and that their countries of origin had refused to accept their return. Several of the countries of origin disputed that claim. The men were held in a shipping container at a US base in Djibouti for seven weeks while their court case was heard.
How: US to Djibouti via a Gulfstream V (N588AT) operated by Journey Aviation. Djibouti to South Sudan via an unidentified US military KC-135 flying with no transponder signal.
Imprisoned? Yes. Read more about conditions in South Sudanese prisons here. Read more about their imprisonment in Djibouti here.
Deal: The South Sudanese government asked the Trump administration for a number of concessions, though as late July, it had not agreed to any. In November, the US ended temporary protected status for South Sudanese citizens.
Now: The Supreme Court granted the Trump administration broad powers to expel migrants in early July, and the men were delivered to South Sudan soon afterward. As of early September, only one – Mexican national Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez – has been returned to his country of origin. The others appear to still be imprisoned in South Sudan.
More: It Could Happen Here podcast: Rendition by Private Jet
The Intercept: Trump Administration Expels Eight Men to War-Torn South Sudan
Al Jazeera: Mexico accepts return of man deported to South Sudan from US
HONDURAS
Date(s): Ongoing since at least June
Who: An unknown number of migrants from other Central American countries.
How: Via flights also carrying deported Hondurans, mostly operated by GlobalX and Eastern Air.
Imprisoned? No.
Deal: Unknown
Now: DHS described a June agreement as a “safe third-country” agreement, where Central Americans can apply for asylum. Honduras has one of the highest crime rates in the world and is not safe for Hondurans, let alone vulnerable asylum-seekers.
More: AP: US says Guatemala and Honduras agree to take asylum-seekers
UZBEKISTAN
Date(s): April 30, 2025; March 10, 2026
Who: In April 2025, 131 people were removed to Uzbekistan, among them an unknown number of Kazakh and Kyrgyzs nationals along with Uzbek deportees. In March 2026, six third-country nationals, according to HRF.
How: In April via a Boeing 787 (UK-78706) operated by Uzbekistan Airways; in September possibly via a Boeing 787 (UK-001) owned by the government of Uzbekistan.
Imprisoned? Unknown.
Deal: Unknown.
Now: The government of Uzbekistan agreed to return the Kazakh and Kyrgyz nationals to their countries under “humanitarian and legal principles” but has provided no information on if it achieved that goal. All three countries are authoritarian states with no free press. The fate of the six transported in March 2026 is unknown.
More: Radio Free Europe: US Deports Over 100 Central Asian Nationals With Uzbekistan’s Cooperation
ICE Flight Monitor on September flight to Uzbekistan
RWANDA
Date(s): April 3-4, 2025; August 15-18, 2025
Who: Iraqi national Omar Ameen and seven unidentified migrants. Ameen came to the US with his family as a refugee and was later accused of a murder in Iraq. Though a US judge ruled Ameen could not have committed the murder and could not be deported to Iraq, the Biden administration continued with Ameen’s third-country deportation process up until Trump took over in January. The seven other people arrived in August.
How: In April likely via a Gulfstream V (N176SM) operated by Aircraft Transport Service and an additional unknown aircraft. In August, via two Gulfstream Vs (N588AT and N996GA) operated by Journey Aviation.
Imprisoned? Unknown
Deal: Rwanda $7.5 million from the US, according to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Now: Ameen had many media contacts but has not been heard from publicly since his removal, suggesting he has been imprisoned. Of the second group, Rwanda told AP three wanted to return to their countries of origin, and four wanted to settle in Rwanda, but provided no information on whether they are being detained or have freedom of movement.
More: The Handbasket: US “relocates” Iraqi refugee to Rwanda via new diplomatic arrangement
AP: Rwanda says 7 deportees arrived from the US in August under agreement with Washington
BHUTAN
Date(s): Multiple times since March, exact dates unclear
Who: At least 27 stateless refugees stripped of citizenship by Bhutan in the 1990s due to their ethnicity who legally resettled in the US. All who were recently detained and removed appear to have had criminal records, ranging from traffic violations to juvenile offenses and assault, and had completed their sentences years ago. Because they are stateless and were re-expelled, I am including their removals to Bhutan as third-country removals.
How: Unclear. Because of the lack of details, I have not been able to identify the flights used for these removals. Soon after their arrivals, all appear to have been taken by Bhutanese authorities to the Indian or Nepali borders and expelled again.
Imprisoned? Yes, briefly, in Bhutan. At least four were also detained in Nepal for illegal entry.
Deal: Unknown
Now: Some have returned to the same refugee camps in Nepal they left decades ago. Some are in hiding in India or Nepal, others are missing, according to family members in the US.
More: DW: Bhutanese deported from the US again face statelessness
NPR: A refugee deported to Bhutan by the U.S. is now stateless
EL SALVADOR
Date(s): March 15-16, 2025; March 31, 2025
Who: 252 Venezuelans falsely claimed to be gang members and declared “alien enemies,” along with about 30 Salvadoran deportees, including Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported by mistake. All of the flights appear to have violated a court order. Most of the migrants had entered the US legally; only six had been convicted of violent crimes.
How: On March 15-16 via three Airbus A320s (N278GX, N837VA, N630VA) operated by GlobalX, also known as Global Crossing Airlines. On March 31 via an unknown military aircraft.
Imprisoned? Yes, in the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, where they were frog-marched and had their heads shaved for a perverse propaganda video.
Deal: The Salvadoran government recieved $4.76 million from the US, according to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Now: The Venezuelans were freed and repatriated in a US prisoner exchange after four months and have begun telling their stories of the horrific conditions, beatings and sexual assaults they endured at CECOT. Abrego was sent back to the US, where he was detained on specious charges and is now being threatened with third-country removal to Uganda.
More: ProPublica: Who Are the Venezuelan Immigrants Trump Sent to CECOT?
The Bulwark: How a Makeup Artist Survived the World’s Worst Prison
AP: US seeks to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda, court filing shows
COSTA RICA
Date(s): Feb. 20, 2025; April 11, 2026; April 17, 2026; April 24, 2026
Who: Feb. 20: Approximately 200 migrants, including 81 children with their families, mostly from Central Asia. Many said they had entered the US from Mexico to legally seek asylum, had been detained, and were prevented from filing their claims before their removal. April 11: Twenty-five migrants – one from Albania, two men and two women from Cameroon, two men from China, five men and three women from Guatemala, two men and two women from Honduras, three men from India, one woman from Kenya, and two men from Morocco, according to El Observador. April 17: 22 people from Brazil (8), Romania (3), Uzbekistan (3), China (2), and one each from Belarus, India, Ireland, and Vietnam. The Irish man was described as “elderly.” April 24: 25 people from Guatemala (5), Brazil (4), Honduras (5), China (3), India (3), and one each from Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Bolivia and Romania, according to El Observador.
How: Feb. 20: Via an Airbus A320 (N630VA) operated by GlobalX. April 11: Via an Airbus A320 (N278GX) operated by GlobalX. April 17: Via an Airbus A321 (N570TA) operated by GlobalX. April 24: Via an Airbus A320 (N276GX) operated by GlobalX.
Imprisoned? Feb. 20: Yes, in a former pencil factory, but released after a lawsuit. April 11, 17, 24: Expected to be accommodated in a hotel for one week, it is unclear if they will have freedom of movement.
Deal: The Trump administration agreed to pay for the migrants' housing, care, and repatriation.
Now: Feb. 20: Local attorneys say about 90 have returned to their countries of origin, at least two dozen are seeking asylum in Costa Rica, and six escaped and cannot be located. April 11,17, 24: All of the migrants will have the opportunity to apply for humanitarian visas to resettle in Costa Rica or to be transported to their countries of origin if they so choose, according to Costa Rican officials. Costa Rica is expected to continue to take 25 third-country nationals per week under a new deal.
More: AP: Costa Rica takes in second group of migrants deported from the US
NYT: Costa Rica Tells Trump Deportees They Can Stay and Integrate, or Leave
Reuters: US plans to fund deportations from Costa Rica, document shows
PANAMA
Date(s): Feb. 12-15, 2025
Who: Approximately 300 people, including many families, mostly from Central and East Asian countries. Many said they had entered the US from Mexico to legally seek asylum, had been detained, and were prevented from filing their claims before their removal. This includes Iranian Christian families and at least one Afghan man who said he helped the US military during the war in Afghanistan.
How: Via US Air Force C-17 Globemasters (09-9210, 08-8200 twice)
Imprisoned? Yes, in a hotel and then a detention camp. Released after a lawsuit.
Deal: Unknown.
Now: Local attorneys say about 170 have returned to their home countries; the rest were freed from detention after a lawsuit. As of May, NYT reported about 50 remained in legal limbo and were living in a gymnasium shelter or hotel rooms provided by UNICEF.
More: Human Rights Watch: 'Nobody Cared, Nobody Listened'
NYT: Migrants Deported to Panama Ask: 'Where Am I Going to Go?'
NYT: U.S. Bill Named for Artemis Ghasemzadeh Aims to Shield Asylum Seekers
MEXICO
Date(s): Ongoing since Jan. 20, 2025
Who: At least 10,000 people from Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, according to Refugees International’s Yael Schacher and Rachel Schmidtke.
How: Via numerous ICE flights to southern Mexico that also include Mexican deportees, and by land at the US-Mexico border.
Imprisoned? No.
Deal: There is no extant agreement. A version of this started under President Biden under limited circumstances. ICE appears to be manipulating and obfuscating detained migrants’ circumstances to shoehorn them into these removals.
Now: Once in Mexico, third-country nationals who want to continue to their countries of origin are offered transportation to Mexico’s southern border. Many plead asylum in Mexico, but the system is currently overwhelmed by the number of new applications. Local aid groups are struggling to care for the ones who remain.
WOLA: Dispatch from Mexico: Difficulties Abound for Both Deported Individuals and Service Providers
Thank you for reading. I am a former Washington Post staff writer, and as far as I know, I’m the only journalist in America covering ICE flights full time. I am committed to keeping this reporting non-paywalled, but if you are able, please sign up for a paid subscription or send me a one-time tip, so I can continue this important work. –Gillian
