Dominican Republic has agreed to accept third-country migrants deported by the U.S., reversing President Luis Abinader's earlier stance. The nonbinding memorandum of understanding allows the country to take deportees without criminal records, excluding Haitians and unaccompanied minors. The move aligns with President Trump's efforts to secure nations for repatriation, as many migrants cannot return to home countries due to persecution risks.

The Dominican government emphasized the deal would be limited in scope, with financial and operational support from the U.S. to ensure orderly returns. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously praised the Dominican Republic as a model for migration management.