Congo to Receive Third-Country Deportees from the U.S. Under New Deal

AP

Detainees board a deportation flight on Eastern Air Express at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Democratic Republic of the Congo will receive migrants under a new agreement as part of the third-country programme introduced by the Trump administration, the government announced on Sunday, becoming the latest African nation to accept deportees from the United States.

According to a statement from the Congolese Ministry of Communications, the first arrivals are expected later this month, although no details were provided regarding the exact timing or the number of migrants.

The government described the arrangement as “temporary”, stating that it reflects Congo’s “commitment to human dignity and international solidarity”. It added that the agreement would not impose financial costs on the country, with the United States covering all logistical expenses.

The United States has reached similar third-country deportation agreements with at least seven other African nations, many of which have been significantly affected by the administration’s policies on trade, aid, and migration.

The Trump administration has spent at least $40 million to deport around 300 migrants to third countries, according to a report released by Democratic staff on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

A key point of contention surrounding such agreements is that many of the migrants involved are subject to protection orders issued by US immigration judges, preventing their return to their home countries due to serious safety concerns.

The government of Democratic Republic of the Congo stated that no automatic transfer of deportees would take place, adding: “Each case will be subject to individual review in accordance with the laws of the Republic and national security requirements.”

Source: AP



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