Paraguay to accept 25 deportees from the US starting Thursday, joining a US third‑country transfer programme that has raised legal and human rights concerns. Paraguay will start receiving 25 Spanish‑speaking deportees sent from the United States, with arrivals due to begin on Thursday. The move is part of a broader US programme to transfer non‑citizens to third countries. Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has agreed to take an initial group of 25 non‑citizens expelled from the United States, with arrivals scheduled to begin on Thursday. The ministry said each case was reviewed individually and that the decision respects Paraguayan sovereignty, national immigration rules and international law. The announcement framed the transfer as a limited, controlled operation rather than an open resettlement programme. Paraguay is the latest country to participate in so‑called third‑country deportations. The government did not name the individuals involved but described them as Spanish‑speaking and not subject to pending asylum claims in the United States, language intended to address legal concerns about the transfers. The statement did not identify any Paraguayan official by name, while a US embassy official publicly welcomed the agreement. Robert Alter, an official at the US Embassy in Paraguay, said the arrangement showed close ties between Washington and Asunción and stressed the migrants did not have pending asylum applications in the United States. How the third‑country scheme works The US programme at the centre of the move allows the United States to send migrants to countries other than their declared country of origin. The Trump administration pursued contacts and deals with multiple governments to accept people the US deems removable. In some cases, those agreements have included financial incentives or contract payments to receiving states. As of February, Democratic lawmakers in the US estimated more than $40 million had been awarded to foreign governments in contracts tied to these arrangements. Countries already reported to be part of or approached for the scheme include: - Costa Rica - El Salvador - Democratic Republic of the Congo - Eswatini - South Sudan Some of those destinations are facing internal instability or conflict, which has stoked criticism from rights groups and legislators. Human rights and legal concerns Advocacy groups and migration lawyers have raised alarms that third‑country deportations can leave individuals in places where they have no ties, protections or family. They argue the practice may undermine regular asylum procedures and sidestep obligations to return people to their country of origin whenever possible. Notable concerns cited by critics include: - Individuals being stranded in countries where they lack support or family links - Undermining or bypassing standard asylum processes - Sending people into contexts of active conflict or displacement (for example, parts of South Sudan or the DRC), which could expose them to renewed risk In one high‑profile case, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man, became a flashpoint because US officials pushed to send him to an African country despite his willingness to go to Costa Rica and Costa Rica’s offer to accept him. That dispute has been cited by critics as evidence the US is using third‑country transfers tactically rather than to find humane solutions. Political stakes in Latin America and Washington The transfers carry political weight in several directions. For Paraguay, accepting a small group allows the government to signal cooperation with a major partner while limiting domestic exposure to large‑scale migration challenges. Why this matters The Paraguayan move is a concrete example of a broader US push to find alternative destinations for people it deems removable — a push that has involved contract payments to foreign governments and drawn criticism from rights groups. That context helps explain why even a small group of 25 deportees has attracted attention from legislators and campaigners. Related Articles Florida AG alleges ChatGPT gave campus shooter actionable advice Goldman Sachs: US investors pour back into Japanese stocks Pentagon seeks $53.6bn for drone programmes in 2027 defence budget The first group of 25 Spanish‑speaking deportees is due to arrive on Thursday, Paraguayan officials said. AI Generated