U.S. third-country deportations draw UN scrutiny after media investigation

An international journalistic investigation led by Forbidden Stories has revealed that the U.S. government transferred at least 25,447 migrants to 28 third countries under undisclosed bilateral arrangements. Internal State Department documents and more than 100 interviews show that approximately 20,000 individuals were sent by bus to Mexico, while over 5,000 were flown to foreign nations with which they had no prior connections, including individuals previously granted protection by U.S. immigration courts.

Following these disclosures, over a dozen United Nations human rights experts urged Washington to suspend third-country transfers, warning of heightened risks of persecution, torture, and abuse. Human rights groups also voiced alarm over reported U.S. plans to deport hundreds of detained Afghans to Pakistan, raising fears of their eventual forced return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Sources: Avaz, Danas, Index, Klix, Vijesti.