Controversial US Payment to Repressive Regime for Deportations
The United States has transferred $7.5 million to the government of Equatorial Guinea, one of the world's most repressive and corrupt regimes, to accept noncitizen deportees from America. This controversial arrangement has been revealed by leading congressional Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, alongside current and former State Department officials and public government data.
Emergency Funds Diverted for Deportation Push
Remarkably, this money represents the first instance where funds from a Congressional allocation intended for international refugee crises have been repurposed. The Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) emergency fund, traditionally used to address humanitarian emergencies and sometimes facilitate refugee resettlement in the US, has instead been deployed under the Trump administration to accelerate deportations.
The substantial sum was sent directly to the government of Equatorial Guinea, whose president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has maintained power for 46 years. Both he and his son, Vice-President Nguema Obiang, face serious allegations of embezzling millions from their impoverished nation to fund extravagant lifestyles.
Serious Concerns Over Human Rights and Corruption
In a strongly worded letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate foreign relations committee, described the payment as "highly unusual". She highlighted the country's notorious history of corruption and government officials' "complicity in human trafficking", raising significant concerns about the responsible use of American taxpayer money.
Shaheen demanded clarification on what protections, if any, would ensure deportees wouldn't become "vulnerable to human trafficking, human smuggling or human rights abuses". Her letter, obtained by the Guardian, underscores the ethical dilemmas surrounding this agreement.
This deal forms part of the administration's contentious third-country deportation push, which has alarmed human rights monitors worldwide. United Nations experts warned in July that this policy could see individuals removed to foreign countries within a single day, without adequate legal safeguards or opportunities to raise legitimate concerns about torture or persecution.
Pattern of Problematic Agreements
Washington's approach has involved contacting at least 58 governments about accepting deportees, frequently securing agreements through cash payments or diplomatic pressure, including threats of travel bans. Nearly all these countries, including Eswatini, South Sudan and El Salvador, feature in State Department reports documenting serious human rights abuses.
A State Department spokesperson defended the policy, stating: "Implementing the Trump Administration's immigration policies is a top priority for the Department of State. As Secretary Rubio has said, we remain unwavering in our commitment to end illegal and mass immigration and bolster America's border security."
The agreement gained momentum after US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Vice-President Obiang in September. Notably, Obiang was convicted by a Parisian court in 2017 for embezzling tens of millions of euros and laundering the proceeds in France. The US Department of Justice had previously determined he spent $315 million worldwide on luxury properties, supercars and other extravagances, including a jewel-encrusted glove from Michael Jackson's Bad tour.
During their meeting on the sidelines of the UN general assembly, Landau and Obiang "reaffirmed joint commitments to deepen commercial and economic ties, combat illegal immigration, and advance security cooperation", according to the State Department.
Observers have noted the deal was conducted with unusual secrecy for an administration that typically publicises its deportation agreements. A congressional aide commented: "Knowing that this was a direct transfer of money to a government that is highly corrupt... was a red flag", describing the arrangement as a "notable, egregious agreement".
Another Democratic aide suggested the State Department might have only shared the agreement with Republican lawmakers, noting they have been "grossly partisan recently – even more than usual".
The office of James Risch, the Republican senator who chairs the foreign relations committee, did not immediately return requests for comment regarding how long this agreement has been under discussion.
