Lead

Fifteen South American migrants and asylum seekers deported from the United States to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) say they are facing pressure to return to their home countries, despite fears for their safety, according to multiple reports.

The group — from Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador — arrived in Kinshasa last week under a controversial US programme that sends undocumented foreign nationals to third countries. Their arrival has drawn attention to the human consequences of the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting from Reuters, AFP, and RFI consistently confirms the core facts: 15 South American migrants were deported to the DRC; they spent a 27-hour flight with hands and feet shackled; they are being housed in a hotel complex near the airport; and they have been granted seven-day visas, extendable for up to three months.

All three outlets also report that the migrants feel pressured to accept a repatriation programme, despite concerns about returning to their countries of origin. The coverage, however, differs in emphasis. Reuters, cited by Africa News, focuses on the migrants' personal stories and legal battles, including a case where a US immigration judge ruled deportation could lead to torture. Al Jazeera highlights human rights concerns and asylum applications, while RFI provides a neutral account of the migrants' living conditions and the broader US deportation agreements with several African nations.

Key Claims

  • 15 migrants deported to DRC: All three sources confirm that 15 South American migrants were deported to the Democratic Republic of Congo last week. They arrived under a US scheme to transfer undocumented foreign nationals to third countries.
  • Shackled flight: According to AFP, the migrants spent a 27-hour flight with their hands and feet shackled, with stopovers in Dakar and Accra before landing at N'djili airport in Kinshasa.
  • Housing at Venus Village: RFI reports that the migrants are being housed in the Venus Village hotel complex on the outskirts of Kinshasa, near the airport. They are not allowed to leave the premises, and police and army vehicles are parked outside.
  • Pressure to repatriate: Multiple sources report that the migrants are being pressured to accept a repatriation programme. A 29-year-old Colombian woman told Reuters, "We feel pressured to agree to go back to our country, regardless of the risks."
  • Visa situation: The migrants were granted one-week visas on arrival, which can be extended for three months, according to RFI.
  • US deportation agreements: The US has signed deportation agreements with several African countries, including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda, and South Sudan, as reported by AFP.
  • Limited access to services: RFI notes that the migrants have limited access to healthcare and are not allowed visitors, though this detail appears only in that outlet's report.
  • Asylum claims: Some migrants had sought asylum in the US after fleeing persecution. Reuters, cited by Africa News, reports that one Colombian woman's asylum application was based on kidnapping and torture by an armed group, as well as abuse by her ex-husband, a police officer.

Perspectives

Migrants' perspective: The migrants express fear and uncertainty. A 30-year-old Colombian woman told AFP, "I didn't want to go to Congo. I'm scared, I don't know the language." Another, Hugo Palencia, told RFI he feels "fine" for now but does not leave the premises. They describe being given less than 24 hours' notice before deportation.

US government's perspective: The Trump administration has implemented hardline measures to restrict immigration and expel immigrants. The DRC government stated that the operation would be entirely financed by the US, without impacting the Congolese public treasury.

International organizations' perspective: The International Organization for Migration (IOM), which takes charge of the migrants after they obtain short-stay visas, told AFP it can offer "assisted voluntary return to migrants who request it."

Concerns about legality: Reuters reports that a US immigration judge ruled in May 2025 that one Colombian woman was more likely than not to be tortured if sent home. Al Jazeera notes that some migrants had sought asylum after fleeing persecution, and rights advocates have accused the administration of using third-country deportations to intimidate asylum seekers.

Context

The DRC is one of the world's 15 poorest countries, thousands of kilometres from the Americas. The migrants do not speak French, the country's official language. The first batch of deportees arrived under a scheme that has been accompanied by US financial and logistical support, yet scant information is provided about the migrants' fate once they arrive, according to AFP.

As the migrants await decisions in their cases, their situation highlights the complexities and risks of third-country deportation agreements.