The Trump administration spent at least 40 million dollars deporting roughly 300 migrants to countries other than their own, according to a Democratic Senate report. The practice expanded significantly over the past year as immigration officials sought to quickly remove immigrants from the U.S., with lump sum payments ranging from $4.7 million to $7.5 million sent to five nations including Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, El Salvador, Eswatini and Palau.

Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, criticized the program as "costly, wasteful and poorly monitored." The report found that El Salvador received about 250 Venezuelan nationals while other nations received far fewer deportees. Internal administration documents reveal 47 third-country agreements are at various stages of negotiation, with 15 concluded and 10 nearing completion. The State Department has defended the practice as part of Trump's campaign to end illegal immigration.

The report highlights inefficiencies including cases where migrants were deported to third countries only to later require expensive return flights to their home countries. Democratic senators argue that direct deportation to countries of origin would avoid unnecessary costs. The investigation also raises questions about potential quid pro quo arrangements, noting that diplomatic communications suggest countries may expect political favors or sanctions relief in exchange for accepting deportees.