Full Breakdown
Trump Administration Expands Third-Country Deportations, From Guyana to High-Profile Ecuador Case
9/8/2026, 4:08:08 AM
Core Event
The United States, under President Donald Trump, has accelerated a “third-country deportation” program that sends non-citizens to nations other than their country of origin. In early September 2026, six Cuban and Afghan nationals arrived in Guyana after U.S. officials vetted them and found no criminal record. Former Ecuadorian interior minister José Serrano Salgado was removed from the United States and flown on a private jet to Guayaquil, Ecuador, despite a prior court order deferring his removal on torture-risk grounds. Both actions are part of more than 30 bilateral agreements the Trump administration has negotiated to relocate migrants abroad.
Background & Context
Third-country deportations involve transferring migrants to a third nation that agrees to host them temporarily. Since taking office, the administration has signed agreements with countries across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas, including St. Kitts and Nevis, Belize, St. Lucia, and now Guyana. The United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) administers the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme that governs the temporary stay of deportees while their immigration status is reviewed.
Data & Statistics
- More than 30 third-country agreements have been finalized, 15 with nations in the Americas.
- The deal with Guyana will last one year and does not constitute permanent resettlement.
- Six deportees (Cuban and Afghan) were received in Guyana; none had criminal backgrounds.
- The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) estimates that 70.6 % of foreign nationals in U.S. immigration detention lack a criminal conviction.
Official Statements & Responses
- Robert Persaud, Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, said the United States had not made further requests for deportees and emphasized that the arrangement is a one-year pilot.
- The Department of Homeland Security asserted that no federal court order barred the deportation of José Serrano, stating the agency does not conduct immigration enforcement on behalf of foreign political interests.
- Juan Pablo Segura, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, posted that Serrano was “wanted by INTERPOL” and would “now face justice in Ecuador.”
- Amnesty International warns that the practice can punish migrants and pressure them to abandon U.S. immigration claims.
On-the-Ground Reports
Mayra Domingo Cardenas, program coordinator for the Guatemalan-Maya Center of Lake Worth, described the children’s departure as “heart-breaking,” noting that many have never visited Guatemala and will now attend rural schools that may require tuition after sixth grade.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- INTERPOL Red Notices: Segura’s claim that Serrano appears on INTERPOL’s “red notice” list conflicts with the agency’s public database, which does not list him.
- Legal Authority: The precise legal basis for Serrano’s deportation after a May 13 court deferral remains unclear; DHS offered no explanation for bypassing the deferral.
- Funding: It is unknown who paid for the private jet that transported Serrano to Ecuador, as the charter company did not respond to inquiries.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We see this almost daily, and it doesn’t get easier,” — Mayra Domingo Cardenas
What’s Next
Under the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme, the six deportees in Guyana will remain for up to one year while their immigration status is reviewed, after which they may be returned to their home countries or relocated elsewhere. José Serrano’s legal team continues to pursue appeals, and U.S. officials have not indicated further third-country deportations beyond the existing agreements.
