Cameroon: Trump's Policy of Deporting Migrants to Unfamiliar Nations Draws Scrutiny

The arrival of another US deportation flight carrying third-country nationals to Cameroon signals the continued expansion of Washington’s strategy to remove migrants to countries with which they have no direct ties.

Lawyers told The Associated Press that eight migrants believed not to be Cameroonian citizens landed in Yaounde on Monday. Alma David of the Novo Legal Group and Cameroon-based attorney Joseph Awah Fru said they had not yet spoken to the new arrivals.

The transfer follows a previous case disclosed by The New York Times on Saturday, which detailed how nine individuals - five women and four men - were deported to Cameroon in January.

According to David, two of those nine have since been repatriated to their home countries.

Protection Orders And Legal Tensions

David said eight of the nine deported in January had protection orders issued by a US immigration judge barring removal to their home countries due to fears of persecution or torture. Deportation to a third country, she argued, functioned as a legal “loophole.”

Fru echoed that concern, stating: “That is why the United States did not send them directly to their countries.”

David added that none of the January group had criminal records beyond driving-related offenses.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the framework, stating: “We are applying the law as written.”

It added that third-country agreements are “essential to the safety of our homeland and the American people.”

DHS confirmed deportations to Cameroon in January but did not provide details on the latest flight.

Scale Of Third-Country Agreements

Internal administration documents reviewed by AP indicate 47 third-country agreements are under negotiation. Of those, 15 have been concluded, while 10 are at or near completion.

A Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff report released last week estimated the administration has spent at least $40 million deporting roughly 300 migrants to third countries across Africa, Central America, and other regions.

Cameroon joins at least seven African states identified as destinations under these arrangements, alongside Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Eswatini, Ghana, and Equatorial Guinea.

Some governments have received payments totaling millions of dollars, though details of the Cameroon agreement remain undisclosed.

Visa Policy And Enforcement Signals

The deportation program has unfolded alongside stricter visa enforcement. In a January 12 social media post, the State Department announced it had revoked more than 100,000 visas, including 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialized visas, targeting individuals with encounters involving criminal activity.

“We will continue to deport these thugs to keep America safe,” the statement read.

Parallel Court And Diplomatic Developments

Legal challenges continue to shape the broader policy environment. On January 31, a Boston federal judge blocked plans to end Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopians, delaying a February 13 deadline affecting more than 5,000 people.

Separately, The New York Times reported on January 30 that the United States and Argentina are in advanced talks on a deal that would enable third-country deportations to Argentina.

Critics, including immigration lawyers and human rights advocates, argue that transfers to countries with weaker legal safeguards risk undermining due process protections.

US authorities maintain that the agreements comply with constitutional requirements and serve as a deterrent against irregular migration.