DR Congo Welcomes First Set of US Deportees

Sat Apr 18 2026 22:25:20 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Fifteen individuals, reportedly from South America, have been deported from the US to the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of an immigration crackdown.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has accepted its first group of 15 deportees from the United States, primarily individuals from South America. This move, part of a broader US immigration policy, sees the Congolese government emphasizing the temporary nature of these arrivals. The US has also deported individuals to other African nations, aligning with its efforts to manage immigration issues.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has received its first group of deportees from the US, marking a significant step in bilateral immigration arrangements. Fifteen individuals, reportedly from South America, were flown to Kinshasa, with the Congolese government stating that their stay will be temporary and supported by US funding.

This cohort is the first of an unspecified number of people that the US has agreed to expel to the DR Congo. The government in Kinshasa clarified that the initiative aligns with its commitment to uphold human dignity and the rights of migrants, rejecting any notion that the arrangement serves as a permanent solution or a means of outsourcing immigration policies.

Over the past months, the US has executed similar deportations to various African nations, including Ghana and South Sudan, as part of a wider crackdown on what it terms illegal and mass immigration. According to US State Department communications, the administration remains steadfast in its dedication to enhancing border security and stabilizing immigration processes.

The individuals traveling to DR Congo will be admitted under limited stay permits in accordance with local immigration laws, though further specifics regarding their backgrounds remain undisclosed. However, sources at N'djili International Airport suggested that many of the deportees are Colombian and Peruvian nationals.

As the US works to address its immigration issues, it concurrently pursues economic agreements with the DR Congo, seeking access to its vast mineral resources, a strategy that intertwines geopolitical interests with humanitarian considerations.