The U.S. government has forcibly transferred more than 23,000 asylum seekers to 26 third-party countries since January 2025, under agreements that allow officials to remove asylum applicants without reviewing the merits of their cases. These "safe third country" agreements operate separately from traditional asylum processing, dismissing claims before examination and instead issuing deportation orders to nations where most asylum seekers have no legal status, family, or established ties. The policy reflects a shift in how the administration processes asylum requests at the southern border.
Rather than allow asylum seekers to remain in the U.S. while their cases are heard, officials send applicants overseas, cut off legal review, and reduce the volume of claims reaching U.S. immigration court. The impact is wide: asylum seekers report learning of their deportation only hours before boarding a flight, and more than 75,000 asylum petitions have been dismissed without examination since the policy began.
Table of Contents
- Which countries are accepting asylum seekers?
- How many people are affected?
- What notice and legal rights do asylum seekers receive?
- What legal challenges has the program faced?
- What can asylum seekers do?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries are accepting asylum seekers?
Nine countries have signed "safe third country" agreements with the U.S. administration: Belize, Cabo Verde, Canada, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Liberia, Paraguay, and Uganda. These agreements allow the U.S. to legally transfer asylum applicants to a third nation instead of processing their claims domestically.
The agreements are selective—each nation has its own arrangement. Some agreements include specific terms or limitations; others apply more broadly. When an asylum seeker's case is subject to removal under an agreement, that nation becomes their new destination regardless of where they traveled from or which country they sought to enter.
How many people are affected?
More than 23,000 people have been forcibly transferred to 26 third countries since January 2025, according to Refugees International's tracking data. That figure exceeds the total number of asylum seekers removed to third countries in any single year prior to 2025.
Of the asylum seekers affected, approximately 16 percent—roughly 12,300 people—have withdrawn or abandoned their asylum cases altogether due to the threat of third-country removal. When an asylum seeker withdraws, no record of their case exists in U.S. immigration court, and they cannot appeal or restart proceedings later.
What notice and legal rights do asylum seekers receive?
Most asylum seekers first learn of their third-country deportation while already on the flight overseas, receiving only 24 hours' notice with no guaranteed opportunity to consult an attorney. The short timeline leaves little room to challenge the decision, file an emergency stay, or arrange legal representation. The legal process for third-country removals bypasses the standard asylum hearing.
Under a Board of Immigration Appeals ruling, asylum seekers can be dismissed from the system before their case is ever heard on the merits. This means an applicant's individual circumstances—trauma history, persecution risk, family ties—are never examined in open court.
What legal challenges has the program faced?
A federal court ruled on February 25, 2026, that the third-country removal system violates the U.S. Constitution and immigration law, though the administration has continued deportations while legal proceedings continue. The court's decision did not immediately halt the program. In March 2026, the Department of Homeland Security halted filing new pretermit motions (requests to dismiss cases) under the agreements. However, the directive applied only to new cases—motions already pending in immigration court continue, leaving tens of thousands of cases still unresolved under the old rules.
What can asylum seekers do?
If you are facing a third-country removal or have received notice of deportation: If you have abandoned an asylum case due to third-country removal threat, consulting an immigration attorney about restarting or clarifying your status may be possible depending on when you withdrew and your current location. Legal aid organizations, including those affiliated with immigration nonprofits, may offer free or low-cost consultation.
- Request a copy of the deportation order and the agreement under which it was issued to understand which country you are being sent to and whether it has a signed U.S. agreement.
- Contact a legal aid organization immediately; a 24-hour window is minimal but may allow an emergency filing or stay request.
- Document any persecution, medical needs, or family ties in the U.S. that may support a legal challenge—though the current system may not allow these factors to be heard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I appeal a third-country removal order?
Most asylum seekers receive notice only 24 hours before deportation, making an emergency legal filing difficult. Once in a third country, appeal options depend on that nation's laws and whether the U.S. agreement includes review procedures. Contact a legal aid organization immediately upon receiving notice to understand your specific options.
Do I have any say in which country I'm sent to?
No. The U.S. agreement with the third country determines your destination, not your personal preference or ties to any specific nation. Asylum seekers have reported having no input on their removal destination.
What happens if I'm deported to a country and treated badly there?
Third-country agreements assume those nations are "safe," but the definition of safety is applied by the U.S., not by independent review. If you believe you face persecution in a third country, document it and pursue remedies through that nation's legal system or international human rights channels. U.S. courts have found the system constitutionally flawed, but cases remain pending.