Asylum-Seekers Stuck in Limbo as U.S. Orders Deportations to Unknown Countries

More than 13,000 immigrants living legally in the U.S. while awaiting asylum rulings have faced third-country deportation orders, destined for nations where they have no ties.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:51pm by Ben Kaplan

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a nondescript immigration detention center, its facade and windows casting long shadows across the ground in the warm light of late afternoon. The building stands alone, devoid of people or activity, conveying a sense of isolation and foreboding.The threat of deportation to unfamiliar countries has sown fear and uncertainty among asylum-seekers living legally in the U.S.San Francisco Today

More than 13,000 immigrants living legally in the U.S. while awaiting asylum rulings have faced so-called third-country deportation orders, destined for countries where most had no ties, according to the nonprofit group Mobile Pathways. Many are now stuck in immigration limbo, unable to argue their asylum claims in court and unsure if they'll be deported to unfamiliar nations.

Why it matters

This policy is seen as an attempt by the administration to instill fear in immigrant communities and drive migrants to abandon their immigration cases and return to their home countries, even if they face persecution or danger there.

The details

ICE attorneys have been instructed to file motions to end migrants' asylum claims and deport them to 'safe third countries' where the U.S. believes they won't face persecution or torture. However, deportations have been far more complicated than expected, with legal challenges, limited diplomatic agreements, and a lack of available flights hampering the government's efforts.

  • In mid-March, top ICE legal officials told field attorneys to stop filing new motions for third-country deportations tied to asylum cases.
  • In October 2025, a ruling from the Justice Department's Board of Immigration Appeals cleared the way for migrants seeking asylum to be removed to any third country where the U.S. believes they won't face persecution or torture.

The players

Mobile Pathways

A nonprofit group that pushes for transparency in immigration proceedings and has tracked over 13,000 third-country deportation orders.

Cassandra Charles

A senior staff attorney with the National Immigration Law Center, which has been fighting the administration's mass deportation agenda.

Sarah Mehta

An immigration issues tracker at the American Civil Liberties Union.

Okello Oryem

The Ugandan minister of state for foreign affairs, who said no asylum-seekers ordered deported to Uganda have actually arrived.

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What they’re saying

“This administration's goal is to instill fear into people. That's the primary thing.”

— Cassandra Charles, Senior Staff Attorney, National Immigration Law Center

“When I think about having to go to those other countries, I panic because I hear they are violent and dangerous.”

— Guatemalan asylum-seeker

“You can't be doing one, two people at a time. Planeloads — that is the most effective way.”

— Okello Oryem, Ugandan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

What’s next

It's unclear if the recent halt on new third-country deportation motions is permanent, but the earlier cases are still moving forward. Immigration advocates expect deportations to increase as the government hires more staff and secures more diplomatic agreements.

The takeaway

This policy has left thousands of asylum-seekers in legal limbo, unable to pursue their claims and facing the prospect of deportation to unfamiliar and potentially dangerous countries. It highlights the administration's aggressive efforts to limit immigration, even if it means undermining the asylum system.