The Unseen Price of Deportation: A Shadowy Deal Between Trump’s America and Africa

A recent investigation by Forbidden Stories, FRANCE 24, and RFI has uncovered a disturbing chapter in the history of Donald Trump’s migrant policy. Secret deals were struck between his administration and several African countries to host undocumented migrants deported from the US.

Journalists have long warned about the dangers of exposing the brutal methods used by ICE. Salvadoran reporter Mario Guevara knows this firsthand; he was detained while covering a protest against ICE and deported to El Salvador after four months. This experience drove the Forbidden Stories network to launch an investigation into “The Deportation Project,” which has revealed alarming details.

Since January 2025, over 25,400 foreigners have been sent back to countries they may never have heard of before. Many had been granted protections preventing their deportation to home countries where they’d be at risk of persecution. The Trump administration responded by striking secret deals with 35 “third countries” that would agree to receive these deportees. What these countries received in return remains unclear, as the negotiations leading up to them were largely opaque.

The investigation reveals that out of dozens of agreements signed by Washington, 12 were struck with African countries. Journalists followed the stories of people abandoned in countries they knew nothing about – Ghana, Cameroon, Eswatini among them. Testimonies from these individuals are heartbreaking: people who lived and worked in the US for decades, built families and started new lives, now risk detention, ill-treatment, or being sent back to their home countries.

This is not just a story about Trump’s migrant policy; it’s also about the broader geopolitics at play. The Trump administration used its power to pressure African countries into hosting deportees, often in exchange for unclear benefits. This raises questions about the nature of these agreements and whether they serve the interests of both parties involved.

In Cameroon, victims of Trump’s deportations face uncertain fates, as reported by David Rich for FRANCE 24. In Ghana and Eswatini, people were sent back to countries with no connection to their past or present lives. The stories are a stark reminder that deportation is not just a policy, but a human experience – one that can have devastating consequences.

The investigation also highlights the importance of independent journalism in exposing the truth about secretive deals. By shedding light on these agreements and the people affected by them, we can begin to understand the true cost of Trump’s deportation policy.

As the US grapples with its own immigration policies under new leadership, it’s essential to remember that the consequences of such decisions are felt far beyond American borders. The stories of those deported to Africa serve as a stark warning about the dangers of shortsighted policymaking and the importance of transparency in international relations.

Ultimately, this investigation is not just about Trump’s deportation policy; it’s also about the human cost of geopolitics. By telling these stories, we hope to give voice to those who have been silenced by their circumstances and inspire a new era of accountability in international relations.

The next step will be crucial: holding those responsible accountable for the lives disrupted and the families torn apart by Trump’s deportation policy. As the world continues to grapple with the aftermath of these agreements, one thing is clear – the stories of those deported to Africa are just the beginning of a much larger conversation about the ethics of international relations in the 21st century.

The silence that followed Trump’s presidency has been deafening; it’s time for action.