The Democratic Republic of Congo announced it will begin receiving migrants from third countries deported by the United States starting in April 2026, making it the latest African nation to join Washington's controversial deportation network.
The Congolese government described the arrangement as a temporary hosting mechanism that will house deportees in designated facilities around Kinshasa under administrative, security, and humanitarian supervision. Officials emphasized the program involves no permanent relocation and rejected characterizations of it as outsourcing American immigration policy.
Each case will undergo individual review according to Congolese law and national security requirements, with no automatic transfers permitted. The United States will cover all logistical and technical costs through specialized agencies, ensuring no burden on Congo's public treasury.
The agreement places Congo alongside Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon in accepting deportees with no connection to their destination countries. Since Trump returned to office in January 2025, third-country deportations became central to his immigration strategy, authorized by the Supreme Court in June 2025.
Congressional documents reveal Washington spent at least $40 million deporting approximately 300 migrants outside their countries of origin. Internal documents show 47 agreements in various stages, with 15 already finalized. Financial incentives vary significantly - Rwanda received $7.5 million, Eswatini got $5.1 million for up to 160 deportees, while Equatorial Guinea secured sanctions relief for its vice president.