The United States deported nearly 13,000 individuals to Mexico without proper screenings or safety assessments between January 2025 and March 2026, according to a report by Human Rights Watch. This practice, which included the transfer of approximately 6,000 Cuban nationals, has raised significant concerns about due process and the safety of those being removed. Many of these third-country nationals arrived in Mexico without identification, money, or personal belongings, leaving them vulnerable in unfamiliar cities.
Deportations Without Individualized Screening
Human Rights Watch documented that U.S. authorities conducted these removals without assessing each person’s individual circumstances. This means that even when migrants expressed fears of torture or serious harm, they were still deported to Mexico. The report is based on interviews with 53 third-country nationals who were deported to cities like Tapachula and Villahermosa in southern Mexico. These individuals reported having no meaningful opportunity to object to their removal before it occurred, which is a key concern regarding U.S. immigration law.
The Scale of Removals
The period examined for the report spans from January 20, 2025, to March 9, 2026. During this time, close to 13,000 third-country nationals were sent to Mexico. Among the nationalities affected were Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. The report highlights that Mexico served as the final destination for many of these individuals, rather than just a transit point.
Secret Agreements and Lack of Protections
A Department of Justice habeas filing from March 2026 reportedly mentioned a “standing (unwritten) agreement” with Mexico regarding these deportations. This suggests a structured, though not publicly disclosed, arrangement between the two countries. Human Rights Watch noted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had removed about 6,000 Cuban nationals to Mexico within the year leading up to the report’s publication. The organization’s findings indicate that these deportations often left individuals with nothing, making it difficult for them to prove their identity, travel, or meet basic needs in their new locations.
Due Process and Safety Concerns
The core of Human Rights Watch’s criticism lies in the denial of individualized reviews for those being deported. This lack of assessment means that the potential risks of sending individuals to Mexico, such as torture or serious harm, were not evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The report emphasizes that this practice is particularly concerning for migrants who had already communicated their fears of danger to U.S. authorities. The organization’s conclusion is that thousands of people were deported to potentially dangerous situations in Mexico without a proper review of the risks they claimed to face.
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