The government policy of third country removals caused confusion and apprehension among asylum seekers in the U.S. Since implementation, more than thirteen thousand individuals have been removed to so-called “safe third countries.” Third country removals increased alongside the volume of asylum cases terminated by the government.
Policy Details
Third country removal is when the U.S. government removes a noncitizen to a country that is not their country of origin, it is known as third country removal. In October 2025, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) declared the validity of third country removals if the country in question is deemed safe. According to PBS, the government removed thirteen thousand asylum seekers since the Board’s ruling. More than half ended up in Honduras, Ecuador, and Uganda.
Impact
In theory, removed individuals can pursue asylum during their stay in the designated third countries. However, the government began rolling back third country removals in March 2026. This is mainly due to the logistical issues of removing small amounts of people, sometimes as few as one or two at a time, to places as far away as Uganda. It’s unclear if the decline in third country removals means the government’s planning on changing tactics or scrapping the policy all together.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.