politics
February 18, 2026
US secretly deports migrants to African state
The US has reportedly deported migrants to Cameroon as part of third-country deals that a recent Senate report described as “opaque”
TL;DR
- The US has secretly deported migrants to Cameroon, including individuals with no ties to the country.
- Some deportees reportedly had legal protections against removal from the US.
- At least 17 migrants have been sent to Cameroon as part of what officials describe as a third-country deportation program.
- These deportations are part of controversial agreements the Trump administration has pursued with several African states.
- A Senate report described these agreements as reached through 'opaque negotiations with little transparency'.
- The African Union has warned member states against agreements that could turn the continent into a 'dumping zone'.
- UN human rights experts suggest these actions risk violating migrant protection principles.
- The Department of Homeland Security defends the deportations as lawful and essential for homeland safety.