The Democratic Republic of Congo has entered into an agreement with the United States to accept deported migrants, including third-country nationals, as part of Washington’s intensified immigration enforcement strategy.

According to BBC News, Congolese authorities confirmed that the arrangement took effect this month, with temporary reception systems already established in the capital, Kinshasa. Facilities to accommodate the arrivals have also been identified.

The Ministry of Communication in DR Congo stated that the US would provide logistical and technical support for the programme, while the Congolese government would not incur any financial costs. However, officials did not disclose the number of deportees expected under the deal.

The move places DR Congo among several countries, including Eswatini, Ghana and South Sudan, that have agreed to host deportees from the US. These arrangements form part of a broader crackdown on migration under the administration of Donald Trump.

Congolese officials emphasised that the initiative is temporary and does not amount to a permanent relocation programme or an outsourcing of national migration policy. They further assured that deportees would not be forcibly returned to their countries of origin, amid concerns raised by human rights groups.

Human rights campaigners have criticised the US policy of deporting migrants to third countries, questioning both its legality and its potential risks to vulnerable individuals. According to BBC News, dozens of migrants have already been sent to various destinations, including recent deportations to Uganda.

In a related development, the US is also in talks with DR Congo over access to key mineral resources such as cobalt, lithium and copper, highlighting the strategic importance of the central African nation. The latest agreement comes as Washington continues to expand partnerships with countries willing to receive deportees, despite growing international scrutiny over the policy.