The United States is quietly expanding its use of third-country deportation arrangements, with fresh talks underway with the Democratic Republic of Congo over the possible transfer of migrants who are neither Congolese nor American, according to multiple diplomatic and government sources.
Discussions between officials in Kinshasa and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump remain ongoing and have yet to produce a final agreement. Key aspects—including when deportation flights might begin, how many people could be affected, and the nationalities of those involved—are still unresolved, two Congolese government sources said.
The negotiations come at a time when Washington is simultaneously pursuing broader strategic interests in Central Africa, including efforts to advance a peace deal between Congo and neighbouring Rwanda, as well as securing access to the country’s vast reserves of critical minerals.
While the talks have not been publicly detailed, they form part of a wider U.S. policy of relocating migrants to third countries to accelerate the removal of individuals who entered or remained in the country without authorization. Such arrangements are typically handled discreetly, with limited information released about their scope or conditions.
The U.S. has already transferred deportees to several African countries, including Ghana, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Eswatini. These moves have drawn criticism from legal experts and human rights organisations, particularly over the legal justification for sending migrants to nations where they have no citizenship ties.
Concerns have also been raised about the treatment of those deported under such agreements. In some instances, migrants have reportedly been forced home despite receiving court-ordered protection in the U.S. meant to prevent that from happening.
According to a source at the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration familiar with the discussions, the proposed arrangement with Congo could involve migrants from South America, including Venezuelans.
It remains unclear what incentives, if any, Congo might receive in exchange for accepting deportees. When contacted, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said Washington had “no comment on the details of our diplomatic communications with other governments,” while Congo’s presidency refused to immediately respond to requests for comment.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah