US Deports 15 Latin Americans to Congo Under New Deal

Around 15 people from Latin America have been sent to Congo by the US. This is the first group under a new deal.
By Newsroom | Immigration, International Relations |

KINSHASA, Congo - Roughly 15 individuals from Latin America, deported from the United States, have landed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This marks the initial phase of a new agreement between the US and Congo for the processing of "third-country" deportees. The arrivals, confirmed by a lawyer speaking to the Associated Press, follow earlier reports from Reuters indicating that Congo was set to receive over 30 such individuals this week.

Deal Dynamics and Displaced People

The arrangement, first detailed on April 5th, positions Congo as the latest African nation to engage in such agreements with the US, a strategy that aims to expedite migrant removals. The Congolese government has emphasized that this initiative will incur no financial cost to Kinshasa, with the US bearing all logistical expenses. This deal is framed by the Congolese government as a "temporary" measure, a reflection of its "commitment to human dignity and international solidarity."

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Unanswered Questions and Criticisms

This development, however, has drawn scrutiny from lawyers and activists. Concerns linger regarding the fate of migrants with existing protection orders from US immigration judges, barring their return to their home countries due to safety apprehensions. The nature of these agreements with nations that possess challenging human rights records and sometimes repressive governments—such as Eswatini, South Sudan, and Equatorial Guinea, which have similar deals—remains a point of contention.

Background of the Agreement

The agreement with Congo was reportedly being negotiated around April 3rd, with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement involved in such operations. This program aligns with broader US policy shifts under the Trump administration to leverage third-country processing, a move that has seen deportees rerouted to nations not of their origin. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has also facilitated similar transfers to countries like Eswatini and Cameroon.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who arrived in Congo from the US and when?
Around 15 people from Latin America were deported from the US and arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo recently. This is the first group to arrive under a new agreement.
Q: What is the new US-Congo agreement about?
The US has made a deal with Congo to process deportees from third countries. This means people deported from the US will be sent to Congo instead of their home countries.
Q: Who is paying for this agreement?
The Congolese government stated that this plan will cost Kinshasa nothing. The US will pay for all the travel and other costs involved.
Q: What are the concerns about this new policy?
Lawyers and activists are worried about the safety of migrants who have protection orders from US judges. These orders stop them from returning to their home countries because of safety fears.
Q: Why is the US using Congo for deportations?
This is part of a US policy to send deportees to countries that are not their own for processing. This strategy aims to speed up the removal of migrants.