US paid US$35 million to deport 300 to remote islands, African nations
South China Morning Post
by BloombergFebruary 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The Trump administration spent over $35 million to deport approximately 300 migrants to countries they had no prior connection to, with an average cost of around $116,666 per person. According to a report by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats, these lump-sum payments were made without any system in place to track how the money was used or ensure accountability. The report revealed that foreign governments, such as Rwanda, which received seven deportees at a cost of roughly $1.1 million, were paid in bulk transfers without oversight, raising concerns about potential misuse of funds.
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Originally published on South China Morning Post on 2/14/2026