Key Takeaways
• Trump administration expands third-country deportation agreements in July 2025 to boost deportations.
• Supreme Court approved fast-track deportations despite legal challenges and human rights concerns.
• Deportees sent to countries like South Sudan and El Salvador without prior ties.
The Trump administration, led by President Trump and border czar Tom Homan, is moving quickly in July 2025 to expand third-country deportation agreements. This policy aims to send migrants from the United States 🇺🇸 to countries that are not their own, especially when their home countries refuse to take them back. The administration says this is a key part of its plan to increase deportations, but the approach has sparked legal battles, human rights concerns, and fear in immigrant communities.
What’s Happening Now
Tom Homan, who oversees border policy for the Trump administration, confirmed in July 2025 that the United States 🇺🇸 is negotiating with several countries to accept migrants who cannot be sent home. Homan explained, “If a migrant’s home country refuses to take them, we find another country willing to accept them.” He did not name the countries involved, saying details would only be shared after deals are signed.
Already, the United States 🇺🇸 has deported people to places like South Sudan 🇸🇸 and El Salvador 🇸🇻, even if those individuals have no ties to those countries. In July 2025, eight men were sent to South Sudan 🇸🇸, and earlier in the year, over 200 alleged Venezuelan gang members were deported to El Salvador 🇸🇻 under a law called the Alien Enemies Act.
Supreme Court Clears the Way
In June 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration could restart fast-track deportations to countries that are not the deportees’ home countries. This decision reversed earlier court orders that had blocked such removals. The ruling gives the administration more power to carry out its mass deportation plans, even as legal and advocacy groups continue to challenge the policy.
How the Policy Works
The Trump administration has set a goal of deporting 1 million people per year, far above the usual number of about 300,000. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has asked Congress for more money to support this goal, including funds for more Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and bigger detention centers.
Third-country deportation agreements are at the heart of this plan. The administration is using diplomatic and economic pressure to get other countries to agree to accept deportees. For example, El Salvador 🇸🇻 reportedly received $15 million from the United States 🇺🇸 to take in and detain Venezuelans and Salvadorans in its high-security CECOT prison.
To carry out these deportations, the government uses both charter and military flights. However, military flights were reduced in March 2025 because they were too expensive and not efficient. Charter flights cost about $8,577 per hour, while “special high-risk” flights can cost up to $27,000 per hour.
The administration often uses the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to speed up deportations. This law, which dates back more than 200 years, allows the president to remove people considered “enemies” during times of conflict. Under this policy, many migrants have little or no chance to make their case before being deported. This has led to mistakes, including the wrongful detention and deportation of some U.S. citizens.
The Trump administration has also reopened the Guantanamo Bay detention camp to hold migrants. However, legal and logistical problems have limited how much it can be used for this purpose.
Who Is Affected
Migrants sent to third countries often face serious risks. Many have no family, friends, or support in the country where they are sent. Some are sent to places with ongoing conflict or poor human rights records, like South Sudan 🇸🇸. There is no guarantee that deportees will be able to stay safely in the receiving country. Some may try to leave again soon after arriving.
The threat of mass deportations and ICE raids has created fear in immigrant communities across the United States 🇺🇸. People worry about being picked up at home, work, school, hospitals, or even places of worship. This fear has also affected industries that rely on immigrant workers, such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality.
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
Many legal experts, immigrant advocates, and human rights groups have raised alarms about the Trump administration’s use of third-country deportation agreements. They argue that sending people to countries where they could face harm or persecution may break international law, especially the rule called non-refoulement. This rule says countries cannot send people to places where they are likely to face torture, violence, or other serious harm.
Some court orders have tried to protect migrants by requiring the government to give written notice before deporting someone to a third country and to allow claims under the UN Convention Against Torture. However, the Supreme Court’s recent decision has weakened these protections.
Key Players and Stakeholders
- Trump Administration: President Trump, Tom Homan, the Department of Homeland Security, and ICE are leading the push for more deportations and third-country agreements.
- Foreign Governments: Countries like El Salvador 🇸🇻, South Sudan 🇸🇸, Panama 🇵🇦, and Costa Rica 🇨🇷 are involved in talks or have already made deals with the United States 🇺🇸.
- U.S. Supreme Court: The Court’s rulings have shaped what the administration can and cannot do.
- Advocacy and Legal Groups: Organizations such as the American Immigration Council, ACLU, and National Immigration Law Center are fighting the policy in court and supporting affected migrants.
How the Policy Is Carried Out
The Trump administration’s approach relies on several steps:
- Identifying Deportees: ICE identifies people for removal, including those whose home countries refuse to take them back.
- Negotiating Agreements: The administration negotiates with other countries to accept these deportees, sometimes offering money or other incentives.
- Transporting Deportees: The government uses charter or military flights to send people to these countries.
- Detaining Migrants: Some countries, like El Salvador 🇸🇻, detain deportees in high-security prisons.
- Limited Legal Process: Many deportees have little chance to challenge their removal, especially under the Alien Enemies Act.
Examples of Recent Deportations
- South Sudan 🇸🇸: In July 2025, eight men were deported to South Sudan 🇸🇸, even though they had no ties to the country. South Sudan 🇸🇸 is known for ongoing conflict and poor human rights conditions.
- El Salvador 🇸🇻: Earlier in 2025, over 200 alleged Venezuelan gang members were sent to El Salvador 🇸🇻. The United States 🇺🇸 reportedly paid El Salvador 🇸🇻 $15 million to accept and detain these individuals in the CECOT prison.
Costs and Logistics
Deporting people to third countries is expensive. Charter flights cost thousands of dollars per hour, and “special high-risk” flights can be even more costly. The administration has tried to use military planes, but this was scaled back because of high costs and logistical problems.
The Department of Homeland Security has asked for more money to support these operations. The FY2026 budget request includes funds for more ICE agents, more detention beds, and more flights.
Legal Challenges and Mistakes
The use of the Alien Enemies Act and fast-track deportations has led to legal challenges. Some courts have tried to slow down or stop these removals, but the Supreme Court has mostly sided with the Trump administration.
There have been cases where U.S. citizens were wrongly detained or even deported because of mistakes in the process. Legal groups are working to help people who have been affected and to challenge the policy in court.
Impact on Communities and Workers
The threat of mass deportations has caused fear and uncertainty in immigrant communities. People are afraid to go to work, school, or even seek medical care. This has also hurt businesses that depend on immigrant workers, especially in farming, construction, and hotels.
Some local governments and sanctuary cities have tried to protect their residents by limiting cooperation with ICE. However, the Trump administration has increased raids and enforcement in these areas.
International Reactions and Diplomatic Issues
Some countries have agreed to take deportees in exchange for money or other benefits. Others have pushed back, saying they do not want to accept people who are not their citizens. The policy has created tension between the United States 🇺🇸 and some foreign governments.
Human rights groups have criticized the policy, saying it puts people at risk and damages the United States 🇺🇸’s reputation as a country that protects refugees and asylum seekers.
What’s Next
The Trump administration is expected to keep expanding third-country deportation agreements. More deals are likely to be announced in the coming months, according to Tom Homan. Legal challenges will continue, and future Supreme Court decisions could change how the policy is carried out.
The humanitarian, legal, and diplomatic effects of the policy will likely remain a source of debate both in the United States 🇺🇸 and around the world.
What Can Affected Individuals Do?
- Seek Legal Help: If you or someone you know is facing deportation, it is important to get legal advice. Organizations like the American Immigration Council, ACLU, and National Immigration Law Center can help.
- Know Your Rights: Learn about your rights during ICE raids and deportation proceedings. Some protections still apply, even under the new policy.
- Contact Authorities: For official information or to check the status of a case, visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website.
Official Resources
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- White House Press Office
Conclusion and Practical Steps
The Trump administration’s push for third-country deportation agreements, led by Tom Homan, marks a major shift in U.S. immigration policy. By sending migrants to countries that are not their own, the administration hopes to increase deportations and discourage illegal immigration. However, this approach has raised serious legal, humanitarian, and diplomatic questions.
If you are affected by these policies, seek legal help and stay informed about your rights. Advocacy groups and legal organizations continue to fight for fair treatment and due process for all migrants. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the situation is changing quickly, and staying up to date is more important than ever.
For more information on deportation procedures, visit the official ICE website. If you need help with your case, contact a qualified immigration attorney or one of the advocacy groups listed above.
Learn Today
Third-country deportation agreements → Arrangements to deport migrants to countries other than their origin or destination.
Alien Enemies Act → A 1798 law enabling presidential deportations of perceived enemies during conflict.
Non-refoulement → International rule forbidding returning individuals to places risking torture or serious harm.
Charter flights → Privately hired planes used to transport deportees instead of scheduled commercial flights.
Department of Homeland Security → U.S. agency managing immigration enforcement, border security, and deportations.
This Article in a Nutshell
In July 2025, the Trump administration escalated deportations by sending migrants to third countries. Legal battles and human rights concerns surround this fast-track policy, with countries like South Sudan and El Salvador involved in receiving migrants without ties to those nations.
— By VisaVerge.com
