President Trump is leveraging deportations as foreign policy, negotiating with autocratic regimes in Africa to accept U.S.-deported migrants. Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed diplomats to offer financial incentives and visa concessions to secure deals, prioritizing nations like Cameroon and Rwanda despite human rights abuses. The program, termed "America First in Africa," targets 14,000 deported migrants sent to countries with dysfunctional judicial systems, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Eswatini, where systemic torture and forced disappearances persist. Third-country removal allows ICE to bypass legal protections for migrants fearing persecution in their home nations, with only 139 of 560 detained individuals having criminal records.

Many migrants, like a Cameroonian woman granted asylum, face indefinite detention in facilities without access to legal recourse. Critics argue the policy exacerbates suffering by funneling vulnerable individuals into unstable regions. Stephen Miller, a key architect, pushes for accelerated deals, intensifying scrutiny over ethical compromises.