Congo says it will receive third-country deportees from the U.S. under new deal

The Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to accept migrants deported from the United States under the Trump administration's third-country deportation program, according to an announcement from Congo's government on Sunday. The deal represents an expansion of the administration's strategy to send asylum seekers and migrants to nations outside the U.S. instead of processing them domestically. Third-country agreements allow the U.S. to transfer migrants to partner nations, reducing the number of people in the American immigration system. Congo becomes one of several countries the Trump administration has enlisted to participate in these deportation arrangements since taking office. The agreement underscores the administration's effort to sharply reduce asylum claims and migrant arrivals at the U.S. southern border.