Foreign media outlets, including AFP, reported on September 21 (local time) that more than 25,000 undocumented immigrants have been deported to third countries under the anti-immigration policies of the Donald Trump administration.

According to a report jointly released by the France-based investigative journalism organization Forbidden Stories and an international media consortium, about 20,000 of the undocumented immigrants deported through secret agreements between the Trump administration and third countries were sent to Mexico. The remaining individuals were dispersed and deported to 27 other countries in Central and South America, Africa, and the Pacific region.

AFP reported that the United States has been utilizing the Office of Resettlement, newly established under the Department of State in May of last year, to sign secret bilateral agreements and provide funding for third-country deportations.

The details of the agreements signed between the United States and third countries varied depending on specifics such as the deportees' nationalities and whether individuals with criminal records would be accepted.

In some countries that signed the agreements, the United States provided aid through international organizations or governments received funds directly.

Earlier this year, AFP reported that the United States has been leveraging visa bans and restrictions against African countries to facilitate third-country deportations of undocumented immigrants, suggesting that Washington is using foreign aid as leverage to pressure nations into accepting deportees.

According to the report, the United States and Cameroon signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the acceptance of deportees in December of last year.

One week after signing the agreement, Cameroon signed a health assistance program worth approximately 400 million dollars (549 billion KRW) spanning five years.

In January of this year, the U.S. Department of State announced an additional 30 million dollars in funding for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) operating in Cameroon, with the stated aim of promoting the voluntary return of refugees and eradicating illegal immigration.

The first undocumented immigrants deported from the United States arrived in Cameroon on January 14.

In the case of Eswatini, the country agreed to receive a total of 160 undocumented immigrants in exchange for 5 million dollars in aid, and has accommodated 32 people to date since July of last year.

Among those accommodated were individuals with criminal records.

AFP reported that out of the 410 million dollars in U.S. State Department funds earmarked for third-country deportations, 81 million dollars have been allocated to partner countries, 178 million dollars to the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), and 123 million dollars to the UNHCR.

As criticisms arose over whether these international organizations were complicit in the U.S. undocumented immigrant deportation policy, the respective organizations offered explanations.

The UNHCR told Forbidden Stories that it is not a party to the bilateral agreements and that U.S. funding is being used in alignment with the UNHCR's mandate to strengthen asylum systems.

(Photo: Yonhap News)