Overview
- A Senate Foreign Relations Committee report by Democratic staff says at least $40 million funded roughly 300 third‑country deportations.
- The report details lump‑sum payments of $4.7 million to $7.5 million to Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, El Salvador, Eswatini and Palau, plus an estimated $7.2 million for flights often using costly military aircraft.
- Rwanda received $7.5 million but took seven people, Palau was paid $7.5 million yet has accepted none, and El Salvador received about 250 Venezuelans alongside a $4.76 million grant tied to their detention.
- More than 80% of those sent to third countries have returned or are in the process of returning, with documented cases of duplicate flights such as a Mexican routed through South Sudan and a Jamaican sent via Eswatini.
- Internal documents indicate 47 third‑country deals are in play with 15 concluded and 10 near conclusion, rights groups allege abuses in El Salvador, a judge ordered procedural remedies for some Venezuelans, and Secretary Marco Rubio defends the policy as targeting gang members.