Paraguay will receive 25 third-country migrants deported from the United States on Thursday, according to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The migrants, all Spanish-speaking, will be the first group accepted under a new migration cooperation agreement with the U.S., the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Each case has been evaluated individually in full respect of national sovereignty, immigration laws, and international law, the statement added.
Paraguay joins Costa Rica, El Salvador, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini and South Sudan as countries accepting third-country deportees under Trump administration agreements.
The Trump administration has approached dozens of countries to participate in the scheme, despite concerns about human rights conditions in some destinations.
As of February, Democratic lawmakers estimated more than $40 million has been awarded to foreign countries in contracts to accept deportees.
Robert Alter, an official at the U.S. Embassy in Paraguay, praised the agreement as a testament to Washington’s close relationship with Asunción.
He said the migrants do not have pending asylum applications in the U.S. And the collaboration aims to facilitate their safe and orderly return to countries of origin.
Advocacy groups have accused the administration of using third-country deportation threats as an intimidation tactic.
In the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man, officials have insisted on deportation to an African country despite his willingness to go to Costa Rica and that country’s pledge to accept him.
Critics note some destinations are unstable; South Sudan faces a major displacement crisis and fighting risks full-scale war, while the DRC sees ongoing conflict between government forces and Rwanda-backed rebels.
Last week, 15 deportees from South American countries were sent from the U.S. To the DRC despite State Department warnings of civil unrest there.
Why is Paraguay accepting these migrants?
Paraguay says it is upholding national sovereignty, immigration laws, and international law while cooperating with the U.S. On migration management.
What risks do critics highlight about third-country deportations?
Critics point to human rights concerns and instability in destinations like South Sudan and the DRC, where conflict and displacement crises persist.