Trump Administration's $40 Million Third Country Deportation Policy Under Scrutiny

Sat Feb 14 2026 00:46:34 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A Senate Foreign Relations report reveals the Trump administration's $40 million expenditure on deporting migrants to third countries, sparking criticism from Democrats over inefficiency and costs.

The Trump administration has spent approximately $40 million to deport 300 migrants to countries other than their own as part of an expanded third-country deportation policy. The practice, heavily criticized by Senate Democrats for its costs and lack of transparency, involves lump sum payments to nations like Equatorial Guinea and El Salvador. These countries have received a limited number of detainees, raising questions about the policy's effectiveness and potential for violation of migrants' rights.

WASHINGTON (RTWNews) — The Trump administration has allocated at least $40 million to deport approximately 300 migrants to various countries as part of a third-country deportation strategy aimed at rapidly enforcing immigration policy. This figure emerged from a report by the Democratic staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Critics, led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, describe the method of deporting individuals to third countries as both “costly and poorly monitored,” calling for a thorough examination of a policy that operates without sufficient oversight.

The Department of State supports this strategy, portraying it as a critical component of Trump’s efforts to combat illegal immigration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended third-country deportations, asserting the government’s responsibility to expel gang members and others deemed a threat.

This report marks the first congressional analysis of such agreements, revealing financial payments to nations like Equatorial Guinea and El Salvador ranging from $4.7 million to $7.5 million for accepting deported migrants. Most deportees have been sent to El Salvador, with reports indicating around 250 Venezuelans have been returned there, while others, such as Equatorial Guinea, received significantly fewer individuals.

Despite the situation, there are indications of inefficiencies. For example, some migrants deported to third countries have later had to be returned to their home nations by the U.S. government, leading to additional expenditures that could have been avoided.

This third-country deportation scheme represents only a fraction of the administration’s broader immigration efforts, with numerous agreements in varying negotiation stages. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential human rights implications for individuals sent to nations with poor human rights records.

Overall, advocates argue that this method undermines due process rights and places migrants in potentially dangerous situations. The unfolding events continue to prompt serious discussions regarding the ethical and operational aspects of this controversial deportation policy.