The U.S. now deports migrants to third countries with as little as six hours’ notice, raising concerns over safety and human rights.
According to official documents obtained by Reuters, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has revised its deportation protocols to allow removals with just six hours’ notice under “emergency circumstances.” Previously, deportees were given at least 24 hours of notice before removal from the country.
A memo signed on July 10 by Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons signals a broader acceleration of deportation efforts under Donald Trump’s administration. The new policy enables the U.S. to send migrants to third countries that have agreed not to subject returnees to persecution or torture—without further legal review.
This change follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in June that overturned a lower court ruling, thereby removing restrictions on deporting migrants without examining potential risks in the destination countries. Soon after, eight migrants from countries including Cuba, Mexico, Myanmar, and Sudan were deported to South Sudan.
The Trump administration has also reportedly asked five African nations to accept migrants expelled from other countries. ICE argues that third-country deportations speed up the removal of individuals “who have no legal right to remain in the United States.”
However, human rights groups and migrant advocates have sharply criticized this policy. They warn that sending individuals to unfamiliar or unsafe nations risks exposing them to violence or severe hardship. The practice is seen by many as “cruel and dangerous,” especially for vulnerable groups with no prior ties to the receiving nations.
Critics are particularly concerned about the potential deportation of Afghan migrants to third countries, where they could face dire conditions and lack of legal protection. With Afghanistan still facing humanitarian crises, such returns may violate international human rights norms.
As deportation policies grow more aggressive, observers fear a global domino effect—where third countries could be pressured to accept large numbers of vulnerable people with little oversight. Calls are growing for international watchdogs to monitor these practices to ensure the rights and dignity of migrants are preserved.
