Congo has become the latest nation to accept deported migrants from third countries. They will begin arriving in the country later this month, the African nation's Ministry of Communications said.
The country did not specify how many migrants will be sent to the country, but justified the "temporary" arrangement as part of its "commitment to human dignity and international solidarity." It added that it won't come at any cost, as the U.S. will cover all expenses.
The Associated Press detailed that Congo is the eight African country to strike such a deal since the beginning of the Trump administration, adding that the government has spent at least $40 million to deport some 300 people.
The deportations won't be automatic. "Each situation will be subject to an individual review in accordance with the laws of the Republic and national security requirements," the ministry noted.
Human rights organizations have described the situation in the DRC as "extremely grave, especially in the east." The main drivers are the war involving M23 and other armed groups, attacks on civilians, sexual violence, forced displacement, and abuses by both armed groups and state-linked forces.
Amnesty International says civilians have continued to face unlawful killings, injuries, and attacks as fighting escalated, with armed groups including M23, CODECO, and ADF responsible for many of the abuses. Those abuses have included killings, abductions, looting, and attacks that devastate everyday life in places like North Kivu and Ituri.
Overall, more than 13,000 migrants who were legally living in the United States while awaiting asylum decisions have been ordered deported to third countries where many have no ties, according to advocacy groups.
Advocates consulted by ABC News say the practice, paired with halted or delayed asylum proceedings and restrictions on work authorization, has left thousands in legal and economic limbo.
Cassandra Charles, a senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, told the outlet that the approach is intentional. "This administration's goal is to instill fear into people. That's the primary thing," she said.
The orders stem from a policy shift that allows immigration authorities to terminate asylum cases and redirect migrants to so-called "safe third countries." A ruling by the Justice Department's Board of Immigration Appeals in October enabled such removals, even if individuals had never lived in or traveled to those countries.
Sarah Mehta of the American Civil Liberties Union told ABC News that the government is not disputing asylum claims on their merits. "They're just saying, 'We're kicking this case completely out of court, and we're going to send that person to another country,'" she said.
