Trump Reshapes Deportation Policies Across Latin America, Asia

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Trump Reshapes Deportation Policies Across Latin America, Asia \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Trump administration has begun a sweeping effort to reshape U.S. immigration enforcement, making deals across Latin America and Central Asia to reverse migration flows. Under these agreements, countries like Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, and Honduras are receiving deportees or facilitating repatriations. Images of migrants deplaning in shackles and detained in remote camps have reinforced Trump’s “shock and awe” approach to deter illegal immigration. However, the secrecy of these agreements raises concerns over human rights violations and whether migrants are being returned to unsafe conditions in violation of international law.

Trump’s Expanded Deportation Network: Quick Looks

U.S. Shifts Immigration Tactics: The Trump administration is partnering with Latin American countries to deport migrants quickly and deter border crossings.
Mexico Becomes a Holding Zone: Thousands of deportees are transferred to Mexico with ICE paperwork listing it as their removal destination.
Panama and Costa Rica as Stopovers: Migrants from Central Asia and beyond are being flown to Panama and Costa Rica, awaiting voluntary repatriation or further transfers.
Honduras’ Role in the System: U.S. deportation flights drop off Venezuelan migrants in Honduras, where they board separate flights back to Caracas.
Secretive Agreements Raise Concerns: Many deals with Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama remain undisclosed, raising legal and human rights questions.
“Shock and Awe” Deportation Tactics: The administration is using high-profile images of shackled migrants and detention centers to deter illegal immigration.
U.S. Funds Regional Deportation Efforts: The U.S. is paying for repatriation programs in Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia, with support from U.N. agencies.
Human Rights Warnings: Advocates fear migrants could be sent to dangerous conditions or denied asylum protections through third-country transfers.

Deep Look

The U.S. immigration landscape has undergone a dramatic shift, with the Trump administration orchestrating a network of regional agreements to facilitate mass deportations. This new strategy leverages partnerships with multiple countries, effectively outsourcing parts of U.S. immigration enforcement.

For migrants, the message is clear: reaching the U.S. border is no longer a viable option. Those attempting the journey are finding themselves quickly deported, transferred to third countries, or stranded in makeshift facilities across Latin America.

The Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have secured agreements with Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama, designating them as staging grounds for deported migrants. These deals remain largely undisclosed, raising questions about the legality and ethical implications of sending asylum seekers to countries where they may face persecution or harsh conditions.

Secretive Deals and Diplomatic Pressure

Unlike Trump’s first term, when agreements were limited to Mexico and Guatemala accepting asylum seekers, his second term has broadened and intensified deportation efforts. Some deals involve migrants being flown to stopover countries before returning to their home nations. Others effectively convert Latin American countries into holding zones for those denied entry into the U.S.

Many of these agreements have been struck without public disclosure, fueling criticism that the administration is circumventing international asylum laws.

Adam Isacson, a researcher at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), suggested that many of these arrangements amount to “handshake deals”, pressured by U.S. threats to cut foreign aid or impose tariffs.

“They’re being much more ambitious now. The idea of sending people to be warehoused like goods, to deport them to third countries, wasn’t even an issue in Trump’s first term.”

The deals come as Trump’s administration prioritizes mass deportation but faces limited detention space within the U.S.. By using regional allies, officials hope to quickly process and remove migrants without straining domestic immigration facilities.

Mexico’s Role: A Surrogate Immigration Detention Center

Mexico has become a key player in Trump’s immigration crackdown, accepting thousands of deportees under new U.S. agreements.

In just one month, Mexico has received over 3,300 deported migrants from at least seven different nationalities. Many of them have arrived with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) documents that state:

“Reason for transfer: removal. Name of new facility (immigration): MEXICO.”

Unlike Trump’s first-term “Remain in Mexico” policy, which forced asylum seekers to wait outside the U.S., this new approach simply expels migrants to Mexico, effectively treating it as an extended U.S. detention zone.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has remained largely silent on her country’s role, other than affirming Mexico’s willingness to cooperate with U.S. deportation efforts. The State Department, however, has praised Mexico for receiving deportation flights and for returning migrants to their home countries.

Panama: The New Route for Southbound Deportations

One of the most stunning reversals in migration flows has occurred in Panama. Once a transit hub for hundreds of thousands of migrants moving north, the country is now being used to send deportees in the opposite direction.

Recently, nearly 300 U.S. deportees from ten different Asian countries were detained in a Panama City hotel, awaiting repatriation. Some displayed desperate signs in their windows, reading:

“Help” and “We are not safe in our country.”

For those who refused voluntary return, the U.S. and Panama transferred them to a remote jungle camp, back along the route they originally used to reach the U.S.

A migrant in the camp described the harsh conditions and lack of legal transparency:

“We weren’t told how long we’d be here. We don’t know our rights.”

Similar deportation flights landed in Costa Rica, where migrants were also sent to holding facilities previously used for northbound travelers.

The U.S. is financing these repatriations, with support from U.N. agencies like the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The IOM has stated that it is assisting in voluntary repatriations but only when it is deemed safe.

Human Rights Concerns and Legal Challenges

While the administration touts these deportations as a success in border security, human rights organizations warn that many migrants are being expelled without due process.

Critics argue that the U.S. may be using third countries as a workaround to send migrants back to nations where they could face persecution—a potential violation of international asylum law.

“The U.S. is essentially using other countries to do its deportation dirty work,” said Gretchen Kuhner, director of IMUMI, a legal services organization in Mexico.

One disturbing example came from Cancun, Mexico, where a U.S. deportation flight carrying Venezuelans made an unscheduled stop. Activists claim this may have prevented migrants from seeking asylum while in Mexican territory.

Additionally, reports suggest that some Venezuelan deportees had previously served in the country’s armed forces, meaning they may now face punishment or even imprisonment under Venezuela’s government.

“The risks are even greater for migrants from Iran and Afghanistan,” said Isacson, noting that these deportations could place lives in danger.

The Politics of Mass Deportation

For the Trump administration, the aggressive deportation strategy is designed not just to reduce migration, but also to send a clear message to would-be migrants:

“Getting to the U.S. border is no longer worth it.”

The sheer visibility of mass deportations—from **shackled detainees stepping off planes to makeshift holding camps in Panama—**is part of a deliberate “shock and awe” strategy.

Even as Congress has not yet approved new funding for immigration enforcement, Trump’s team is moving swiftly and aggressively to implement the most restrictive immigration policies seen in decades.

The administration is reportedly pressuring Colombia and Panama to set up boat routes to send migrants southward, further reversing migration trends.

Conclusion: A New Era of U.S. Immigration Enforcement

The Trump administration’s second term has ushered in a more expansive and aggressive deportation policy, relying on Latin American partnerships to enforce removals beyond U.S. borders.

Mexico is acting as a landing zone for deported migrants.
Panama and Costa Rica are serving as stopover points for repatriation.
The U.S. is financing deportation operations across the region.

While the administration sees a major success in deterrence, critics warn that migrants are being sent into dangerous and uncertain conditions, raising legal and ethical concerns.

With little transparency about these agreements, human rights groups argue that migrants’ protections under international law are being systematically eroded.

As Trump accelerates his deportation machine, the world is watching to see how these policies will shape the future of U.S. immigration enforcement—and the fate of those caught in its grip.