Paraguay Joins US in Accepting Third-Country Migrant Deportees Amid Controversy

Paraguay has agreed to accept an initial group of 25 Spanish-speaking migrants deported from the United States, marking its entry into the controversial third-country deportation program initiated by the Trump administration.

This move is part of a broader US strategy to curb migration by sending non-citizen deportees to countries with which they have no prior ties, raising significant legal and human rights concerns internationally.

What Is the Third-Country Deportation Program?

The US Trump administration has been aggressively pursuing agreements with various countries to accept deportees who are not citizens of the US or the receiving country. These third-country deportations allow the US to send migrants to nations they have no direct connection with, often under multimillion-dollar contracts.

• Countries involved include Costa Rica, El Salvador, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, South Sudan, and now Paraguay.
• The US has reportedly awarded over $40 million in contracts to incentivize countries to accept deportees.
• The program aims to reduce migration flows to the US by expanding deportation options.

Paraguay’s Role and Official Statements

Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it will receive 25 Spanish-speaking deportees starting Thursday, emphasizing that each case was individually evaluated respecting national sovereignty and international law.

These migrants do not have pending asylum applications in the United States. The intention of this collaboration is to facilitate the safe and orderly return of these individuals to their countries of origin.—Robert Alter, US Embassy official in Paraguay

The US Embassy in Paraguay praised the agreement as a sign of close bilateral relations, while also addressing concerns about the legality and humanitarian aspects of the deportations.

Human Rights Concerns and Criticism

Advocacy groups have condemned the third-country deportation scheme, accusing the US administration of using it as a coercive tactic to intimidate migrants. Critics highlight the instability and human rights challenges in some receiving countries, such as South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which face ongoing conflicts and displacement crises.

The deportations were an undignified, harrowing and dehumanising process that reflected a system of transnational repression.—Uganda Law Society and East Africa Law Society

Cases like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man the US sought to deport to an African country against his and Costa Rica’s wishes, have drawn international attention to the program’s controversial nature.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Third-Country Deportations

The Trump administration is reportedly negotiating similar deportation agreements with up to 47 additional countries, signaling an expansion of this policy despite widespread criticism.

As the program grows, questions remain about the long-term humanitarian impact, the legal frameworks governing such deportations, and the responsibilities of receiving countries in protecting deportees’ rights.