Trump’s special strategy to deport illegals gives him another tool for enforcement
Trump Administration Expands Use of Third‑Country Deportations, Sending 25,000 Criminal Immigrants Abroad
WASHINGTON – In a marked shift from prior practice, the Trump administration has moved ahead with a broad program of “third‑country” deportations, relocating roughly 25,000 undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of serious crimes to nations outside of their countries of origin. The policy, carried out by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with diplomatic support from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has resulted in agreements with at least 30 countries, including Liberia, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), and South Sudan.
A New Removal Strategy
Under U.S. immigration law, officials can deport an undocumented immigrant to a country other than that of their nationality if removal to the home country is deemed “impracticable” or “inadvisable.” The Trump administration has applied that provision extensively, citing concerns that many countries would reject criminal returnees, would lack diplomatic ties, or could pose a risk of persecution to the individual.
DHS officials announced that Liberia had agreed to accept 1,200 third‑country deportees within a year. In addition to Liberia, the administration has moved criminal aliens to Eswatini and South Sudan. The first attempt to send a group of criminal immigrants to South Sudan met with legal opposition, but the administration ultimately completed the deportations after a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, and the American Immigration Council was unsuccessful.
Legal Challenges and Court Rulings
The policy has faced scrutiny in federal courts. A federal appeals court affirmed the legality of third‑country removals, while a Massachusetts judge—appointed by President Biden—concluded that detained immigrants possess rights under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), a 1946 statute governing administrative rulemaking. An appeals judge upheld the administration’s approach, finding the removals permissible under existing law.
In December, the U.S. Supreme Court scheduled arguments on the issue, following its earlier decision to permit third‑country deportations. The Court’s ruling will determine whether the policy remains viable.
Who Is Being Sent and Why
DHS has not released a full list of individuals, but media reports describe some of the deportees as having been convicted of murder, arson, armed robbery, kidnapping, sexual assault of a mentally disabled woman, and child rape. One reported case involved a Vietnamese child rapist, while others included a Jamaican murderer, a Laotian murderer, a Yemeni murderer, a Cuban murderer, and an attempted cop killer.
The administration argues that sending these criminals to third countries protects U.S. public safety and serves as a deterrent to illegal immigration. Critics contend that the policy circumvents judicial safeguards and may expose individuals to unsafe conditions abroad.
Background on the Policy
Until the Trump administration, criminal undocumented immigrants were typically released into the United States after removal proceedings, unless they were deemed a threat to public safety and faced deportation to their home country. The new policy represents a departure from that precedent and has been cited by supporters as a fulfillment of the “mass deportation” promise of the 2016 election platform.
Current Status
As of now, DHS has moved 25,000 criminal immigrants to third countries, and the administration plans to continue the program pending the outcome of the Supreme Court hearing. The legal battle over third‑country removals remains a key issue in U.S. immigration policy discussions, with both sides preparing for the potential implications of the Court’s decision.