Deportations Under Marco Rubio’s State Department

A recent article in the Washington Post highlights the efforts of Marco Rubio’s state department, which has managed to deport 25,000 migrants. These deportations had previously faced obstacles due to resistance from their countries of origin or U.S. legal challenges.

According to the Post, “He has been making rapid progress,” illustrating the swift actions taken by Rubio. The article notes:

The Trump administration has either authorized or promised at least $410 million to establish agreements with 31 nations, primarily in Africa and Latin America, as of late June. This information comes from government documents that provide an extensive view of the Trump administration’s expanding network for third-country deportations.

The Post draws on information from insiders who were unhappy with the current policies set forth by President Joe Biden, which favor more migration-friendly and labor-accessible approaches. They reported:

A former staff member, who left the office earlier this year, shared that many colleagues were struggling to keep a positive outlook, often discussing their frustrations on encrypted messaging platforms. They exchanged links about the hardships faced by deported individuals, often prefacing these messages with a warning that the content would be upsetting.

“Everybody feels pretty conflicted,” this former employee said. “Morale is low, and it’s hectic; people wish they were doing anything else.”

Rubio and his team have negotiated with around 31 foreign governments to designate them as “Safe Third Countries,” allowing deportable individuals to be sent there even if their own countries refuse their return.

Countries such as Vietnam, Russia, Afghanistan, Ecuador, Iran, Egypt, and China have been known to block the return of their citizens who have completed prison sentences in the U.S.

The discussions are led by Rubio’s primary deputy, Chris Landau, with support from Stephen Miller, a key figure in Trump’s migration strategy.

While several migrants have had judges intervene on their behalf to stop their deportation due to concerns about human rights abuses, federal legislation permits their transfer to “Safe Third Countries.”

Markwayne Mullin’s Department of Homeland Security is overseeing the deportation processes.

The Post notes that the report was part of a broader collaboration among progressive media outlets, which tend to underscore the narrative concerning the deportation of women while downplaying that of more dangerous individuals. The Guardian, for instance, reported:

Nika, a 32-year-old woman from Iran, described her experience, detailing how the cuffs restricted her movement. Despite pleading for the officers to adjust them, they did not relent. She noted that others endured worse; some men were wrapped tightly for opposing orders to board the flight.

Having fled Iran 18 months prior after protesting against the regime, Nika had viewed the U.S. as a refuge. Conditions in Iran have worsened drastically since her departure, with security forces violently suppressing dissenting voices this year.

Public opinion seems to favor the deportations, yet the Post relegated expert endorsements of this policy to a later section of the article:

Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, expressed, “It’s clear that some individuals end up back in their home countries after being sent to third countries because their attempts to stay in the U.S. have failed. This approach effectively removes individuals who should not be here, though it might not seem ideal for everyone involved.”

A notable portion of the backlash regarding these deportations stems from the reshuffling of State Department officials to align with Trump’s 2024 campaign promises centered around mass deportation. The article states:

The Office of Remigration, composed of around 15 employees within the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, signifies a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, moving from resettling refugees to actively seeking to remove them. The term “remigration” itself has drawn criticism as it’s often associated with white nationalist rhetoric in Europe.

This network includes countries like Mexico, Ghana, Eswatini, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, and the Dominican Republic.

According to the Guardian, Mexico has been a reliable participant in the deportation initiative:

…Around 20,000 individuals have reportedly been transported to Mexico, based on counts from Refugees International and Human Rights First. Additionally, over 5,000 have been sent on flights to various places in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Central Asia to which they have no ties, often being returned to their original homes where U.S. immigration judges deemed that their safety was in peril.

The Post elaborates on the international endeavor to highlight these Third Country deportations:

The Washington Post’s analysis of the Office of Remigration was part of The Deportation Project, an extensive joint investigation conducted over six months by 26 media outlets in 15 different countries. This initiative, organized by Forbidden Stories, involved interviews with numerous former and current officials, international leaders, and immigration advocates, providing insights from those deported.

The group behind this initiative is backed by prominent donors like the MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation. However, they have hesitated to delve into the particular flow of funds within migration, focusing instead on the upward movement of resources from the public to wealthy investors, politicians, and progressive organizations.

Notably, among these investors is Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon, along with the Washington Post.