WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has come under fire for a controversial policy of third country deportations, which has reportedly cost at least $40 million for deporting approximately 300 migrants to nations other than their own. The practice, which aims to swiftly remove immigrants from the U.S., has been criticized for its inefficiency and potential human rights violations, according to a report by the Democratic staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The report cites significant sums funneled into these operations, with lump sum payments ranging from $4.7 million to $7.5 million made to various countries, such as Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, and El Salvador. Notably, El Salvador has received around 250 Venezuelan migrants, while others received far fewer.
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who leads the committee, condemned the policy as 'costly, wasteful, and poorly monitored,' calling for more scrutiny on a system operating with minimal oversight. The State Department maintains that this approach is essential to achieving President Trump's goals of curbing illegal immigration, defending the practice amid growing criticism.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizes the importance of deporting gang members and asserts that these third-country arrangements help protect U.S. citizens.
Additionally, the report highlights several instances where deportees were returned to their countries after being initially sent to third nations, underscoring the wastefulness of such operations. Advocacy groups have likened the policy to a reckless tactic that undermines due process, leaving individuals stranded in countries marked by human rights abuses.
As the administration continues its negotiations with various countries for further third-country agreements, with 15 concluded and 10 nearing completion, the implications of these deportations remain a subject of heated debate, raising questions about the operational efficacy and morality of such practices.
The report cites significant sums funneled into these operations, with lump sum payments ranging from $4.7 million to $7.5 million made to various countries, such as Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, and El Salvador. Notably, El Salvador has received around 250 Venezuelan migrants, while others received far fewer.
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who leads the committee, condemned the policy as 'costly, wasteful, and poorly monitored,' calling for more scrutiny on a system operating with minimal oversight. The State Department maintains that this approach is essential to achieving President Trump's goals of curbing illegal immigration, defending the practice amid growing criticism.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizes the importance of deporting gang members and asserts that these third-country arrangements help protect U.S. citizens.
Additionally, the report highlights several instances where deportees were returned to their countries after being initially sent to third nations, underscoring the wastefulness of such operations. Advocacy groups have likened the policy to a reckless tactic that undermines due process, leaving individuals stranded in countries marked by human rights abuses.
As the administration continues its negotiations with various countries for further third-country agreements, with 15 concluded and 10 nearing completion, the implications of these deportations remain a subject of heated debate, raising questions about the operational efficacy and morality of such practices.
