Wednesday, February 18 2026 -The United States has reportedly deported nine migrants, under the administration's third-country deportation strategy, to Cameroon.
According to a report by The New York Times, the
deportees, none of whom are Cameroonian nationals, were placed on a January 14
Department of Homeland Security flight from Alexandria, Louisiana, without
being told their destination until they were restrained in handcuffs and
chains.
The Department of Homeland Security, the State Department,
and Cameroon’s Ministry of External Affairs have not publicly confirmed any
agreement authorising such transfers.
Cameroon now joins Rwanda and Eswatini among other African
nations reported to have accepted third-country deportees from the United
States under controversial arrangements.
These deals typically involve migrants who cannot be
returned to their home countries due to diplomatic barriers, lack of
documentation, or security concerns.
The policy has triggered legal challenges in U.S. courts,
where immigration advocates argue that deporting individuals with active
protections or pending claims may violate due process and non-refoulement
obligations under international law.
In several cases, federal judges have temporarily halted
removals while reviewing whether deportees face potential harm or unlawful
transfer. Rights groups contend that sending migrants to countries with which
they have no ties raises fresh humanitarian and legal concerns.
For President Trump, the expansion of third-country
deportation agreements aligns with a central campaign promise: accelerating
removals and tightening border enforcement.
Since returning to office, his administration has
prioritised faster deportation pathways, particularly for migrants whose home
governments refuse repatriation or delay documentation.
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