From raids to Rwanda: The global fallout of America’s immigration crackdown

In the first months of his second term, President Donald Trump has begun implementing what he previously described as the largest domestic deportation operation in U.S. history.

Washington insists that its actions are necessary to curb illegal immigration. These include hundreds of deportation flights, expanded transfers to third countries, and Trump’s rare invocation of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act.

Experts warn that countries receiving the deportees are likely being pressured politically and economically by the U.S.

In its latest move, the administration transferred the first group of deported migrants to Rwanda under a controversial agreement. Rwanda confirmed that it had received the group and was fulfilling its agreement with Washington.

How many deportations have taken place during Trump’s second term?

Since Trump’s return to office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported noncitizens through both charter and commercial flights, though the exact numbers remain unclear.

According to data from a U.S.-based migrant rights advocacy group, more than 600 deportation flights have taken place since Trump reentered the White House.

The Wall Street Journal reported that some deportations were carried out using military aircraft. U.S. military officials claimed they halted the practice in early March due to cost and inefficiency.

The most notable deportation occurred on March 15, when Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport more than 200 people to El Salvador.

The Migration Policy Institute has reported that the administration is on track to deport about half a million people this year—far fewer than the 1.685 million deportations carried out in fiscal year 2024 under President Joe Biden. Biden’s administration deported around 4 million people in total, while former President Barack Obama deported roughly 3 million. Analysts suggest the higher deportation figures under Biden were partly due to larger numbers of migrants arriving at the southern border.

Where are migrants being deported?

The so-called Northern Triangle countries of Central America—El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras—received over half of all deported migrants in May.

Other frequent destinations for deportation flights have been Latin American and Caribbean nations, including Colombia and Mexico, while African countries accepted about 10 percent of deportees.

To facilitate deportations, Washington has struck agreements with multiple governments to serve either as transit hubs or final destinations for deportees. In February, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed two such deals with El Salvador and Guatemala, both agreeing to accept deportation flights carrying their own citizens as well as other nationalities. Several other countries have also agreed to accept deportees from the U.S.

Meanwhile, since February, roughly 500 migrants have been transferred to the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. In June, the administration began reviewing the cases of 9,000 additional migrants for possible transfer there.

Human rights groups remain deeply concerned about the treatment of migrants after their arrival in third countries.

Inside the U.S., the administration’s mass deportation campaign has faced strong criticism. Legal experts argue that the White House’s policies lack transparency and question the government’s authority to deport migrants without due process, while several human rights organizations have already filed lawsuits.