The government policy of third country removals caused confusion and apprehension for  asylum seekers living in the U.S. Since implementation in early 2025, the government removed more than thirteen thousand individuals to so-called “safe third countries.” Third country removals increased alongside an increase asylum case cancellations.

Policy Details

Third country removal is when the government takes a noncitizen individual to a country other than their country of origin. In October 2025, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) declared the validity of third country removals if the country in question’s deemed safe. According to PBS, the government removed thirteen thousand asylum seekers since the Board’s ruling. More than half of these removals ended up in Honduras, Ecuador, and Uganda.

Impact

Removed individuals can pursue asylum during their stay in the designated third countries. However, the government began rolling back third country removals in March 2026. This is mostly due to the logistical issues of removing small amounts of people, sometimes as few as one or two at a time, to places as far away as Uganda or Ecuador. It’s unclear if the decline in this type of third country removals means the government’s planning on changing tactics or scrapping the policy all together.

As always, Immigration USA actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, we’re with you every step of the way.