Deported to a country you've never heard of

Key Takeaways

The Trump administration implemented "third country deportations" for asylum seekers.
Asylum seekers face detention and uncertain conditions after being deported to third countries.
The U.S. asylum system underwent significant changes, reducing access to protection for many.
Immigration policy is unstable, relying on executive orders amidst rising global displacement.

German Smirnov, a Russian citizen and fitness coach, fled Russia after filming election fraud, leading him and his family to seek asylum.
Following a lawyer's advice, Smirnov and his family attempted to cross the U.S. border after their asylum process in Mexico was delayed and scheduled interviews canceled post-Trump's election.

Smirnov and his family were denied asylum at the U.S. border due to the new administration and detained for 31 days in harsh conditions.
They were subsequently deported to Costa Rica, where they were held in a dilapidated factory with other migrants.
U.S. deportation is a civil process, not a punishment, allowing for indefinite detention without legal counsel, as reported by Amnesty International.

In Costa Rica, German Smirnov and his family received temporary status in April, allowing them to leave the factory, but they faced limited connections, language barriers, and financial struggles.
The Trump administration's "third country deportations" have sent thousands of people to countries like Ghana and Panama since January 2025, where many reportedly face violence, sexual abuse, and disease.

Reporter Micah Rosenberg of ProPublica discusses the Trump administration's novel "third country deportations" policy, designed to expel asylum seekers to countries where they have no ties.
This strategy significantly escalated, targeting migrants from nations refusing repatriation, including Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, China, Uzbekistan, South Sudan, and Uganda.
Notably, 238 Venezuelan nationals were deported to a maximum security prison in El Salvador, with ProPublica reporting many lacked criminal records and were wrongly accused of gang affiliation.

Prior to the Trump administration, asylum seekers often entered the U.S. and were released to pursue claims, with asylum legally granted for specific fears of persecution.
The Trump administration's approach viewed most claims as illegitimate, drastically reducing border crossings and releases into the country, thereby limiting access to protection for legitimate cases.

Information on reaching the U.S. border and seeking asylum spread through platforms like WhatsApp and TikTok, leading many from South America, India, and Africa to undertake perilous, debt-incurring journeys.
U.S. immigration policy is unstable, fluctuating with presidential administrations due to a lack of comprehensive congressional reform and outdated systems.
The conversation highlights an increase in global displacement, with politicians, including those in Europe and Canada, adopting similar asylum restrictions and rhetoric to the Trump administration.