List of African countries that have accepted U.S. deportees so far

The U.S. says the approach is meant to speed up deportations when a person’s country of origin refuses to take them back.

But lawyers for deportees and rights groups have questioned the legality of the practice, saying it can deny people due process and expose them to harm in countries they have no connection to.

Rwanda became one of the first African countries to take part in the program. In August 2025, the government confirmed that seven people deported by the U.S. had arrived in the country under a bilateral agreement signed earlier that month.

Authorities said they would provide temporary shelter and support while the deportees’ next steps are decided.

In July 2025, Eswatini received five people deported from the U.S. under the third-country deportation policy.

Officials said they would be given temporary shelter while their cases are reviewed.

Some civil society groups have challenged the move in court, saying it could go against the country’s laws and human rights rules.

He said the decision was made under ECOWAS free movement rules, which allow West Africans to stay in other member countries for up to 90 days.

Ghana also said it would help arrange onward travel for the deportees to their home countries.

However, some legal experts in the U.S. have raised concerns about the lack of transparency around the transfers and the conditions under which they took place.

In April 2025, Washington imposed visa restrictions on South Sudanese passport holders after Juba initially refused to accept its nationals. U.S. officials have since reported deportation flights to South Sudan.

Experts say some African governments may see cooperation as a way to build goodwill with the Trump administration in areas such as trade, aid and migration.

But human rights advocates have warned that the policy raises serious legal and ethical concerns, especially when deportees are sent to countries where they have no ties, legal status or support systems.

For now, the list of African countries involved in the policy appears to be growing even as debate over its legality continues.