Fifteen people deported from the US, who are reportedly from South America, have arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is the first group of an unknown number of people that the US has expelled which the DR Congo had agreed to take in. The government in Kinshasa has stressed that their stay in the country is only temporary and that Washington is funding 'their reception, support and care'. The US has already sent deportees to several other African countries, including Ghana, South Sudan, and Eswatini, as part of the crackdown on immigration. Earlier this month, when details of the deportation deal first emerged, the Congolese government said the decision to receive what are known as third-country migrants - that is those who come from neither the sending nor receiving nation - aligns with its commitment to human dignity, to protecting the rights of migrants and international solidarity. The Congolese authorities also said that the scheme was not a 'permanent relocation mechanism or an outsourcing of migration policies'. The US State Department stated that while it did not comment on diplomatic communications with other governments, the administration remains 'unwavering' in its commitment to end illegal and mass immigration and bolster America's border security. The US has deported dozens of people to third countries since President Donald Trump came to power in January last year as part of its hard-line approach towards immigration. The individuals concerned are admitted to the national territory under short-stay permits, in accordance with national legislation concerning the entry and residence of foreigners. A source at N'djili International Airport, where the group landed in the early hours of Friday, indicated that they were mostly Colombians and Peruvians. According to a minority report from the US Senate's committee on foreign relations, the Trump administration has spent more than $40 million in third-country deportations up to January 2026. The US has also negotiated a minerals deal with DR Congo to help gain access to the central African country's vast reserves of key metals. In recent developments, peace talks between the Congolese government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels are ongoing, with efforts to allow in humanitarian aid and monitor a permanent ceasefire.
DR Congo Welcomes First Group of US Deportees
DR Congo Welcomes First Group of US Deportees
In a recent development, the Democratic Republic of Congo has accepted its first group of deportees from the United States as part of immigration reform efforts. This marks a significant moment in international immigration policies.
Fifteen deportees from the US, mainly Colombians and Peruvians, have landed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This group represents the beginning of a larger effort by the US to deport individuals to third countries as part of its crackdown on illegal immigration. The Congolese government emphasizes these migrants will have temporary permits as the plan aims to respect human dignity and is not a permanent relocation strategy.
