US Deports Migrants to African Countries in Exchange for Investments

Cameroon, Ghana, Rwanda, and Eswatini receive payments and diplomatic concessions for accepting deported migrants

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The United States government has been deporting migrants, including those from Angola, Congo, Ghana, Morocco, and Zimbabwe, to various African countries such as Cameroon, Ghana, Rwanda, and Eswatini. In exchange, these countries have received investments in their healthcare systems and other diplomatic concessions from the US. This practice has been described as a form of "outsourcing" of US migration policy, where financial incentives and diplomatic deals are used to get African nations to accept deported third-country nationals.

Why it matters

This story highlights the controversial practice of the US government deporting migrants to other countries, often in exchange for financial or diplomatic incentives. Critics argue that this amounts to a form of outsourcing migration policy and may violate human rights. The story also raises questions about the ethics and legality of these arrangements, as well as their broader implications for international relations and migration management.

The details

According to the report, in February 2026, two groups of foreigners deported by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency arrived in Cameroon, some in handcuffs and shackles. The deportees included migrants from Angola, Congo, Ghana, Morocco, and Zimbabwe. Later, citizens of Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Ethiopia also joined them. The Cameroonian authorities reportedly tried to keep the story from becoming public. Prior to this, the US and Cameroon had signed a memorandum providing for large American investments in Cameroon's healthcare system. Similar schemes have been used in other African countries, such as Ghana, Rwanda, and Eswatini, where the governments have eased visa restrictions or received multimillion-dollar payments in exchange for accepting deported migrants from the US.

  • In February 2026, two groups of deported migrants arrived in Cameroon.
  • Prior to the deportations, the US and Cameroon had signed a memorandum providing for US investments in Cameroon's healthcare system.

The players

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The US government agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and deporting undocumented migrants.

Cameroon

An African country that has reportedly received deported migrants from the US in exchange for investments and diplomatic concessions.

Ghana

An African country that has reportedly eased visa restrictions after concluding a migration agreement with the US.

Rwanda

An African country that has reportedly received multimillion-dollar payments for accepting deported third-country nationals from the US.

Eswatini

An African country that has reportedly received multimillion-dollar payments for accepting deported third-country nationals from the US.

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The takeaway

This story highlights the controversial practice of the US government outsourcing its migration policy to other countries, often in exchange for financial or diplomatic incentives. Critics argue that this may violate human rights and raise ethical concerns about the treatment of migrants. The story also raises questions about the broader implications of these arrangements for international relations and migration management.