Key facts
- The Trump administration has deported over 25,000 people to countries that are not their own since 2025.
- The administration struck 35 deals allowing deportation to countries where migrants often have no connections.
- A US federal appeals court ruled the third-country removals policy unlawful, violating due process.
- The government is expected to appeal the court's decision within 90 days.
The Trump administration's policy of deporting migrants and asylum seekers to third countries, where they often have no ties, has been deemed unlawful by a US federal appeals court. The court's three-judge panel unanimously agreed that the practice violated due process. This policy is part of a broader effort by the US to deter unauthorized immigration, with thousands of individuals reportedly sent to unfamiliar African nations, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea. Since returning to office in 2025, the administration has deported over 25,000 people under these arrangements, striking 35 separate deals with various countries. The government has 90 days to appeal the court's decision, and an appeal is expected.