An examination of the Trump administration's strategy to deport migrants to third countries reveals considerable obstacles and a heavy reliance on an agreement with Mexico. Despite efforts to establish numerous agreements, the program achieved limited success.

Challenges in Third-Country Deportations

Stephen Miller, a key figure in the administration's immigration policy, convened a multiagency call to address why countries were not accepting more deportees from the U.S. During President Donald Trump’s second term, a significant deportation program resulted in the expulsion of over 675,000 undocumented immigrants, though this fell short of the annual goal of one million.

To overcome resistance from nations unwilling to accept their citizens back, the administration sought agreements obligating countries to accept deportees regardless of their origin or language. However, despite establishing pacts with approximately two dozen countries across Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America, this initiative accounted for a very small portion of total deportations.

Limited Success and Mexico's Role

The Migration Policy Institute estimated that from January to December 2025, around 15,000 individuals were deported to third countries, with 13,000 sent to Mexico. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated the administration was using all tools for the largest lawful deportation of criminal illegal aliens. The State Department affirmed that implementing immigration policies was a priority.

Mexico has been the only country to accept a substantial number of deported migrants from other nations, a practice that continued under the Biden administration. It remains unclear if other countries that signed agreements have actually accepted any migrants.

Frustration and Diplomatic Efforts

Sources indicated Miller expressed frustration towards State Department officials during the call. Despite extensive efforts to secure arrangements for countries to accept migrants, the actual removals to these nations appeared stalled or nonexistent. Miller reportedly threatened personal intervention if progress was not made.

Internal discussions focused on establishing more third-country removal agreements, which were seen as enabling the U.S. to remove individuals with criminal records whose home countries refused to accept them. This initiative was a core component of the Trump administration's mass deportation strategy, aiming to fulfill a campaign promise.

Underlying Motivations and Hurdles

The U.S. has historically faced difficulties deporting certain nationalities due to strained diplomatic relations or the criminal histories of individuals. The push for third-country deportations aimed to circumvent non-cooperative countries and deter illegal immigration by the prospect of being sent to unfamiliar nations.

Approximately 13,000 non-Mexican nationals were sent to Mexico during the first year of Trump's term, with a few thousand more expected. This expanded on a 2022 Biden administration program expelling Venezuelan migrants to Mexico. Yael Schacher of Refugees International noted that the informal agreement with Mexico remains the primary channel for third-country deportations.

These agreements often involve financial incentives or political favors. The primary challenge for the Trump administration was finding willing nations, particularly for deportees from countries with strained relations or those with criminal records. The initiative's modest success, largely through the Mexico agreement, underscores the difficulties in achieving large-scale third-country deportations.