The Trump administration deported 15 South American migrants to the Democratic Republic of Congo on April 22, 2026 [1], [2].
This move marks a significant escalation in the administration's third-country program, which relocates migrants who entered the U.S. illegally to nations other than their own. The practice raises questions about the safety and legal protections of asylum seekers sent to regions where they have no familial or national ties.
Upon arrival in Kinshasa, the migrants were shackled and placed in a shared outdoor area of a local hotel [1], [2]. The group, consisting of individuals who had sought asylum in the U.S., remained in the hotel for five days at the time of reporting [2].
The deportations are the result of a deal between the U.S. and the Congolese government. A spokesperson for the Congolese government said Congo would receive some migrants as part of the program [3].
Conditions for the deportees have been described as precarious. One unnamed migrant said, "We don’t know what will happen to us" [4].
U.S. officials have maintained a firm stance on the necessity of these removals. One official said, "Do you know who the next president is? The fun is over for you here, the music has changed … you’ve got to go back" [5].
The use of the Democratic Republic of Congo as a destination for South American nationals is a central component of the current administration's strategy to deter illegal migration by removing the possibility of remaining in the U.S. during asylum proceedings.
“"We don’t know what will happen to us."”
The relocation of migrants to a third country, specifically one as unstable as the DR Congo, signals a shift toward more aggressive deterrence tactics. By decoupling deportation from the migrant's country of origin, the U.S. government is testing a legal framework that prioritizes removal speed over the traditional asylum process, potentially creating a precedent for future third-country agreements.
