A 60 Minutes report claims some deportees were sent to places U.S. judges ruled off limits, while the Department of Homeland Security’s top lawyer insists third-country removals make America safer.
Story Highlights
- 60 Minutes says some deportees ended up where judges warned of persecution or torture.
- Homeland Security’s counsel James Percival defends third-country removals as a safety tool.
- DHS cites diplomatic assurances and says onward transfers may be voluntary or by foreign law.
- Watchdogs flagged gaps in detention oversight and inspection follow-through in past years.
What 60 Minutes Reported About Third-Country Removals
CBS’s 60 Minutes aired findings from a five-month review that described cases where deportees ended up in countries U.S. immigration judges had ruled were unsafe due to likely persecution or torture. The report focused on “third-country” removals, where a person is flown to a nation other than the home country. The program highlighted accounts from people sent to Ghana and then allegedly transported elsewhere against their will. These claims, if accurate, raise hard questions about tracking and safeguards after transfer.
One case drew special attention. CBS reported that a Texas father, Moussa Diawara, was deported to Ghana and then forced to go to Mali, which he said was unsafe for him. The Department of Homeland Security responded that Ghana gave diplomatic assurances for his safety and stressed that he was flown to Ghana, not Mali. The case frames the larger issue: what happens after U.S. transfer, and who ensures a person is not sent to a barred location by a third country?
How DHS Defended The Policy And Pushed Back
James Percival, the Department of Homeland Security general counsel, told 60 Minutes that third-country removals are widely misunderstood and are meant to protect public safety. He argued the tool helps in three situations: when a home country refuses return, when a person cannot stay in the United States but cannot go home safely, and when logistics block removal to the home country. He also said he was not aware of Ghana sending people onward against their will and questioned the credibility of many fear claims.
Percival said the Department of Homeland Security has built agreements with nearly three dozen nations and removed about 25,000 people to third countries since January 2025, according to reporting that summarized his remarks. He stated that prior administrations did not do enough to remove criminal noncitizens or use diplomacy to secure returns, which he framed as a failure to protect the public. His core message was simple: the policy stops crimes before they happen and keeps Americans safer.
Accountability Gaps And What Prior Watchdogs Found
Independent oversight in past years documented weak inspection follow-through and oversight gaps in immigration detention. A Department of Homeland Security inspector general review found concerns about detainee treatment and care at facilities it visited, underscoring the need for consistent standards and enforcement. A Government Accountability Office report in 2025 said the Department of Homeland Security should define goals and measures to assess its inspection programs across entities with differing processes. Those findings point to a long-running management problem that can undermine trust.
These oversight records do not prove each claim in the 60 Minutes report. But they do show why detailed tracking after transfer matters. When the United States uses a third country, the risks change. The key question becomes whether the United States verifies what happens next. Diplomatic assurances can help, but they must be matched with monitoring that catches any onward movement that breaks prior protection findings. Without that, the public sees process, not results.
What This Means For Security, Borders, And The Rule Of Law
Border security and lawful removal are nonnegotiable. Communities need safety. Taxpayers deserve a system that works. The Department of Homeland Security says third-country removals close dangerous gaps and move out people who cannot remain here. That goal aligns with law and order and with the duty to protect citizens. But Americans also expect the government to honor court rulings, track outcomes, and prevent any backdoor return to danger through a third country’s actions.
President Trump’s administration can strengthen confidence by posting clear metrics. First, state how many third-country removals occur and to where. Second, report how many receiving countries issue written non-transfer pledges and how the Department of Homeland Security verifies them. Third, disclose any confirmed onward transfers, how they were handled, and what changes followed. These steps would back the safety case with proof and answer critics without slowing needed enforcement.
Sources:
mediaite.com, cbsnews.com, ground.news
