the U.S. government has indeed been conducting secretive “third-country” deportation flights to Cameroon

The situation involves a controversial program where migrants—many of whom are not even from Cameroon—are being sent to the Central African nation under quiet agreements between the two governments.

the Reports​Third-Country Deportations: Unlike standard deportations, many of these individuals are not Cameroonian nationals. They are reportedly being sent to Cameroon as a “transit” or holding point because the U.S. faces legal or diplomatic barriers to sending them directly back to their home countries.

​Secret Flights: Recent investigations by The New York Times and the Associated Press highlight a flight on January 14, 2026, carrying nine migrants from Alexandria, Louisiana, to Yaoundé, Cameroon. A second flight was reported as recently as February 16, 2026

​Legal Protections Ignored: Lawyers for the deportees claim that several individuals had active U.S. court protections (such as stays of removal) that should have prevented their deportation.

​Conditions in Cameroon: Reports suggest these migrants are being held in state-owned compounds in Yaoundé. They are allegedly told they can only leave if they “voluntarily” agree to return to the countries they originally fled due to war or persecution

Why Is This Happening?​The U.S. government appears to be using Cameroon as part of a broader strategy to increase deportation numbers. By sending migrants to a third country, the administration utilizes a legal “loophole”—while U.S. law may prohibit sending someone directly to a country where they face certain death or torture, it is less explicit about sending them to an unrelated third country

Note: Cameroon is one of several African nations—including Rwanda, Eswatini, and Ghana—that have reportedly entered into murky, cash-for-deportation arrangements with the U.S.

Human Rights Concerns​Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have expressed grave concern. They point out that:

​Non-refoulement: Sending refugees back to danger (even via a third country) may violate international law.

​Due Process: Migrants have reported being shackled and placed on planes without being told where they were going until they were already in the air.

​Cameroon’s Stability: Cameroon itself is dealing with significant internal conflict and human rights issues, making it a questionable “safe” third country for vulnerable migrants.

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