Some LGBTQ migrants deported from the United States have been sent to countries where they could face discrimination, violence or other serious risks because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The issue has emerged amid the US government’s expanded use of third-country deportation agreements, under which migrants can be transferred to countries other than their own. Human rights advocates and immigration lawyers have raised concerns about whether adequate safeguards are in place for people who may face persecution if returned or transferred elsewhere.

Several countries involved in these arrangements have been criticised over their human rights records. Advocates say LGBTQ migrants can be particularly vulnerable when they are sent to places where same-sex relationships are criminalised or where discrimination against LGBTQ people remains widespread.

The US government has defended its deportation programme as lawful, while officials have said immigration enforcement will continue against people who do not have a legal right to remain in the country.

For migrants who previously sought asylum because they feared persecution, however, deportation can carry significant consequences. Lawyers representing some deportees have argued that sending people to third countries without sufficient protections may expose them to dangers they had originally sought to escape.

The controversy has added to a wider debate over the treatment of migrants under the expanding third-country deportation system and the responsibilities of governments when individuals may face persecution after removal.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/26/world/lgbtq-migrants-asylum-seekers-america-intl