More than half of the South American migrants deported from the U.S. to the Democratic Republic of Congo have returned to their home countries [1].
The movement of these individuals highlights the complexities of international deportation routes and the challenges of repatriating migrants to nations other than their origin.
A government spokesperson in Kinshasa said Friday that the majority of the group has already departed from the DRC [1]. The group consisted of 15 South American migrants who were deported from the U.S. in April 2026 [1].
According to the spokesperson, more than half of these 15 individuals have now left the DRC [1]. The government did not provide specific details regarding the reasons why these migrants were initially sent to the DRC, or the specific countries in South America to which they have since returned [1].
This logistical chain — moving migrants from North America to Central Africa before they reach South America — underscores the administrative hurdles involved in cross-continental removals. The DRC government reported the updates to clarify the current status of the deportees following the April arrivals [1].
“More than half of the South American migrants deported from the U.S. to the Democratic Republic of Congo have returned to their home countries.”
This situation illustrates the rare and complex occurrence of 'third-country' deportations, where migrants are sent to a nation that is not their country of origin. The fact that the DRC acted as a transit point for South American nationals suggests a breakdown or a specific legal arrangement in the repatriation process, emphasizing the diplomatic challenges of returning migrants across different hemispheres.
