Congo will begin receiving migrants deported from the United States under a new third-country agreement with the Trump administration, the government said Sunday, becoming the latest African nation to participate in the program.
The Congolese Ministry of Communications said deportees are expected to arrive later this month, though officials did not provide details on the number of individuals or an exact timeline.
The government described the arrangement as temporary and said it reflects Congo’s commitment to humanitarian principles and international cooperation. It added that the United States would cover all logistical costs associated with the transfers.
The agreement is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to deport migrants to countries other than their own. Similar deals have been reached with several other African nations.
According to a report by Democratic staff on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the United States has spent tens of millions of dollars to relocate hundreds of migrants under the program.
The policy has drawn criticism from lawyers and human rights advocates, who have raised concerns about the conditions in some of the receiving countries and the legal status of the deportees. Critics note that some migrants subject to these agreements have protections from U.S. immigration courts preventing their return to their countries of origin due to safety risks.
Congolese officials said each case would be reviewed individually in line with national laws and security considerations, and that there would be no automatic acceptance of deportees.
The development highlights ongoing debate over U.S. immigration policy and the use of third-country agreements, as well as broader concerns about the treatment and relocation of migrants.
The agreement underscores the expansion of third-country deportation policies as the United States seeks alternatives for migrants who cannot be returned to their home countries.
While Congo has framed the move as a humanitarian gesture, the lack of detailed information about implementation and oversight raises questions about how the arrangement will function in practice.
The involvement of countries with varying human rights records has been a central concern for critics, particularly regarding the safety and legal protections afforded to deportees.
As the program grows, its legal and ethical implications are likely to face increasing scrutiny both domestically and internationally.
AP
