The Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to accept migrants deported from the United States who are not Congolese, under a deal that took effect this month, officials confirmed.
According to the Ministry of Communication, a temporary reception system has been established, with facilities in the capital, Kinshasa, prepared to accommodate arrivals. The statement added that the United States will provide “logistical and technical support,” while the Congolese government will not bear any financial costs.
Officials did not specify how many deportees would be accepted. The move comes as Washington expands its policy of sending migrants to third countries as part of a broader immigration crackdown.
Amid concerns that some migrants could ultimately be returned to their countries of origin—where they may face persecution—Congolese authorities said no such transfers are planned.
The government described the decision to receive third-country migrants—individuals who are neither from the sending nor receiving country—as consistent with DR Congo’s commitment to human dignity, international solidarity, and the protection of migrant rights. It also emphasized that the arrangement is not intended to be a permanent relocation program or an outsourcing of migration policy.
The US State Department declined to comment on specific diplomatic discussions but reiterated its commitment to ending illegal immigration and strengthening border security.
Since returning to office in January, President Donald Trump’s administration has deported dozens of migrants to third countries as part of its hardline immigration agenda—a policy that has drawn criticism from human rights groups, some of which have questioned its legality.
DR Congo joins several other countries, including Eswatini, Ghana, and South Sudan, in receiving deportees from the US. Just last week, eight individuals from various African nations were deported to Uganda.
A minority report from the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee estimates that the Trump administration has likely spent over $40 million on third-country deportations as of January 2026, though the full cost remains unclear. The report also notes that more than $32 million has been provided directly to countries including Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, El Salvador, Eswatini, and Palau.
Separately, the US is negotiating a minerals agreement with DR Congo to secure access to critical resources such as cobalt, lithium, tantalum, and copper. Under Trump, Washington has also helped broker a peace deal between DR Congo and Rwanda, though its implementation continues to face challenges.
