New reports have identified Cameroon as the latest country to have inked a third-country deportation deal with the United States (U.S).
In January 2026, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) flight reportedly transported nine individuals, none of whom were Cameroonian nationals, to the capital city of Yaoundé.
This move comes as the U.S government faces mounting scrutiny over its reliance on the third-country deportation deal.
Unlike traditional repatriations, these recent operations involve sending migrants to a nation with which they have no personal or ancestral ties.
According to legal documents obtained by investigators, the nine deportees to Cameroon included nationals from countries such as Zimbabwe, who were allegedly told of their destination only after being shackled and boarded onto the aircraft.
It was also gathered that the nine deportees were placed on a January 14 Department of Homeland Security flight from Alexandria, Louisiana.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, and Cameroon’s Ministry of External Affairs have not publicly confirmed any agreement authorising such transfers.
Cameroon now joins Kenya, Ghana Rwanda, and Eswatini among other African nations reported to have accepted a third-country deportation deal from the U.S.
The policy has triggered legal challenges in U.S. courts, where immigration advocates argue that deporting individuals with active protections or pending claims may violate due process and non-refoulement obligations under international law.
In several cases, federal judges have temporarily halted removals while reviewing whether deportees face potential harm or unlawful transfer. Rights groups contend that sending migrants to countries with which they have no ties raises fresh humanitarian and legal concerns.
For Trump, the expansion of third-country deportation agreements aligns with a central campaign promise: accelerating removals and tightening border enforcement.
Since returning to office, his administration has prioritised faster deportation pathways, particularly for migrants whose home governments refuse repatriation or delay documentation.
Also, a recent Senate Foreign Relations Committee investigation revealed that the U.S. government has spent upwards of $40 million on these third-country deals.
