Key Takeaways
• Trump administration’s deportation goal: 1 million people per year, exceeding previous historical records.
• Agreements with countries like Rwanda, Costa Rica, and El Salvador target third-country deportations.
• ICE detention expansion could cost nearly $27 billion; migrant holding facilities include military bases.
The Trump administration has made mass deportations a main focus of its immigration policy since returning to office in 2025. Recent reports show a wide push to send back large numbers of undocumented immigrants each year, with a goal rarely seen in United States 🇺🇸 history. What’s different now is the strategy: the administration is looking for new ways to reach its removal targets by making deportation agreements with many countries around the world. Some of these are countries that have never before been asked to help with United States 🇺🇸 deportations, and some agreements involve sending migrants to places where they have no citizenship or ties. This new approach has gotten strong reactions, raised legal questions, caused worries about human rights, and sparked a worldwide debate about what fair immigration enforcement should look like.
New Focus on Deportation Agreements Beyond Usual Partners
Since taking office again, the Trump administration has tried to expand mass deportations both in how many people are removed and where they are sent. According to reports from inside the federal government, United States 🇺🇸 officials have reached out to countries as far away as Africa to accept those deported from United States 🇺🇸 soil—even if those people are not citizens of the country they’re sent to.
Countries named in these requests include Angola 🇦🇴 and Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶. There are also talks or early steps underway involving Benin 🇧🇯, Eswatini 🇸🇿, Libya 🇱🇾, Moldova 🇲🇩, and Rwanda 🇷🇼. These arrangements are not long-standing—many of the governments involved are still discussing what is possible. For example, Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe has confirmed that talks are happening about his country hosting exiled immigrants and refugees. This statement, given to the Associated Press, shows at least some willingness to consider the request. But not all countries agree: Angola has said it will not accept people who are not citizens of Angola 🇦🇴.
The administration’s efforts do not stop with Africa. Some Latin American countries are already part of official deportation agreements:
- In February 2025, the United States 🇺🇸 sent hundreds of African and Asian migrants to Costa Rica 🇨🇷 and Panama 🇵🇦.
- In March, it deported nearly 300 Venezuelans to El Salvador 🇸🇻, where the migrants were sent to a well-known mega-prison.
- Guatemala 🇬🇹 has agreed to receive people being deported from other countries.
- Mexico 🇲🇽 is taking in migrants from other Latin American countries under a policy started before 2025.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, these arrangements reflect a much broader and more aggressive approach than what has been done in the past, where most deported migrants were sent only to their countries of origin.
Expanding Scale: More Detention, New Agencies, and Military Support
The Trump administration has set a public goal to deport 1 million people a year, a target that stands far above any previous efforts. To get closer to this goal, the federal government is trying several approaches all at the same time.
First, federal immigration officers have been handed tough quotas. Workers in agencies like ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) must now arrest at least 1,200 people per day. Compare this to the highest average in 2014, which was just 500 arrests daily. Yet, as of early February 2025, only about 11,000 arrests had been made since the start of the year—about 600 daily—meaning the goal is still out of reach.
To enforce this high pace of removals, the administration is also:
- Involving agencies that usually do not take part in immigration arrests—such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
- Directing more federal law enforcement groups to focus on detaining undocumented immigrants.
- Increasing military involvement, including using soldiers for border and removal operations.
- Expanding “expedited removal”, a process that allows quick deportation of undocumented individuals who have been in United States 🇺🇸 for less than two years, no matter where in the country they are found.
- Turning military bases into holding centers for migrants waiting to be deported. Places like Fort Bliss in Texas and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba are now being used for this purpose.
The addition of military and other government resources signals how seriously the administration is trying to meet its deportation targets, even if the stated goals remain tough to achieve.
Growing Detention System and Rising Costs
One of the main difficulties in carrying out mass deportations is finding enough space to hold those waiting for removal. The cost is also very high.
Right now, ICE has the capacity to detain about 40,000 immigrants. The daily cost for each immigrant is about $165. If the administration wants to add 110,000 more beds to keep up with its deportation pledge, the Department of Homeland Security estimates the price could reach almost $27 billion.
Some states, especially Texas 🇺🇸, have offered help. State Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham has offered a ranch of 1,400 acres in Starr County as a new detention center. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has offered 4,000 state jail cells to hold undocumented immigrants. The state has also built a military camp in Eagle Pass, along the border, to house 1,800 National Guard troops helping with border operations.
But even with state support, expanding detention on such a large scale comes with big questions, from how to staff so many facilities to how the people being held will be treated.
Breaking Down Legal and Humanitarian Concerns
The way the Trump administration is enforcing and expanding mass deportations has created many legal and humanitarian issues.
There are cases where the administration has ignored or gone against orders from federal judges. For instance, over 100 Venezuelan nationals tied to a group called Tren Aragua were sent out of the country under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. This happened even though a federal judge ordered the flights bringing them back.
Another big worry is how migrants are treated once they reach the new destination countries. While some nations, such as Colombia 🇨🇴 and Panama 🇵🇦, claim to offer migrants food, water, healthcare, and help applying for asylum, other places do not have those resources or have treated migrants harshly. For example, those sent to El Salvador 🇸🇻 have been transferred right away into a prison known for harsh conditions, especially for those accused of being gang members.
Human rights groups have spoken out about both the process and the outcomes of these mass deportations. They point to a need for oversight so that migrants are not subject to violence, poor treatment, or denied their right to seek asylum. There is also concern that some of the people being deported have strong ties to United States 🇺🇸, such as legal status or U.S. citizen family members.
The Role of Third-Country Deportation Agreements
A key part of the Trump administration’s approach is the focus on deportation agreements with third countries. This means sending migrants to countries where they are not citizens and may have no family, legal status, or support. The idea behind these deals is to keep people from staying in the United States 🇺🇸 after their removal orders and to discourage future unlawful border crossings.
The agreements work differently in each place:
- Some countries get financial or development help in exchange for agreeing to take migrants.
- In other countries, there may be pressure from the United States 🇺🇸 government to accept these arrangements for diplomatic reasons.
- Once migrants arrive in the third country, their future is often uncertain—they may be allowed to stay temporarily, forced to move to another country, or in some cases, sent to prison or other holding facilities.
The use of such agreements is not new, but their reach is now much broader. Analysts wonder whether these deals will stand up to legal challenges and if they match United States 🇺🇸 obligations under international law, including the right of migrants to ask for asylum and not be sent to places where they may face harm.
Political, Social, and Economic Impact
The administration’s expanded deportation push is reshaping both domestic and foreign policy. Within the United States 🇺🇸, the pressure for mass deportations has created fear among immigrant communities. People worry about raids at home, work, or even school. There are also concerns that, despite stated priorities, enforcement may sweep up immigrants with long ties to their communities—including those with lawful status or U.S. citizen children.
At the same time, the effects are being felt in countries chosen as deportation destinations. Some nations see a sudden rise in vulnerable migrants needing shelter and support. Others, faced with public backlash, may decide against taking part in deportation agreements. Even among countries that take part, resources can be stretched thin, making it harder to offer any meaningful help for those arriving.
Economically, the cost of mass deportations—especially the rising cost of detaining large numbers of people—puts a strain on both the federal and state budgets. Policymakers and taxpayers alike are left to decide whether the goals justify the price.
Looking at the Future
The Trump administration is clearly determined to carry out its mass deportation policy, even as it faces legal, financial, and diplomatic challenges. It’s likely that these efforts will continue to face court battles, as well as criticism from human rights groups and immigrant advocates. On the other side, supporters argue the administration must do whatever it can to enforce the law and protect borders.
For immigrants and their families, especially those without legal status, daily life is now filled with more uncertainty and fear. For countries around the world, the pressure to sign deportation agreements forces difficult decisions about their own borders and responsibilities. The situation will keep changing as countries react to the new demands, and as more cases work their way through United States 🇺🇸 courts.
Anyone wanting to understand more about the procedures and rules that shape these deportations can review the latest official policies at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website. This site offers current rules, forms, and contact information to help explain what rights and responsibilities may apply in each case.
As United States 🇺🇸 moves ahead with this broader and more aggressive approach, the results will matter for years to come, not just for those facing deportation, but for all who care about how United States 🇺🇸 handles immigration, border policy, and its role in the world.
In summary, the Trump administration’s efforts to expand mass deportations and create wide-ranging deportation agreements mark a big shift in United States 🇺🇸 immigration policy. The actions have sparked legal battles, financial concerns, and worldwide debate. Stakeholders across the spectrum—from migrants and advocates to foreign governments and U.S. communities—must continue to watch closely as these policies and their real-world results unfold.
Learn Today
Expedited Removal → A process for quickly deporting undocumented immigrants found within two years of entry, bypassing immigration judges.
Third-Country Deportation Agreements → Deals for sending migrants to nations where they lack citizenship or connections, expanding beyond traditional partners.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → U.S. federal agency responsible for identifying, detaining, and removing undocumented immigrants from the country.
Alien Enemies Act of 1798 → Historic law allowing removal of foreign nationals deemed threats, used controversially for recent deportations.
Mega-Prison → Extremely large, high-security prison complex, here describing El Salvador’s facility used for arriving deported migrants.
This Article in a Nutshell
The Trump administration’s 2025 immigration shift prioritizes mass deportations and novel third-country agreements, targeting a record 1 million removals yearly. Expanded ICE facilities, military involvement, and new diplomatic deals trigger worldwide debate and mounting costs, while legal and humanitarian concerns over treatment and rights of migrants continue to escalate.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Trump Administration Tries Sending Deportees to Rwanda
• Mexico confirms nearly 39,000 deportees from US under Donald Trump
• India Discusses Religious Needs of Deportees with US Authorities
• Deportees Held Without Legal Access in San Vicente Raise Rights Concerns
• Maduro Welcomes U.S. Deportees, But Dissidents Face Uneasy Return
