Original Date Announced

The BBC reports that the United States and Ghana have signed an agreement for Ghana to accept third-country deported migrants. Ghanaian President John Mahama stated that Ghana would take in nationals from various West African countries, and that 14 individuals have already arrived. President Mahama cited ECOWAS’s free-movement protocols allowing citizens of member states to enter and reside in other West African countries without a visa for up to 90 days.

Third Country Deportation Watch provides detailed updates on this reported agreement.

Trump 2.0 [ID #2134]

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.09.12 Complaint - D.A. v. Noem

Five individuals filed a lawsuit challenging DHS’s policy of deporting noncitizens to third countries without notice and an opportunity to raise fear-based claims. Plaintiffs are noncitizens from Nigeria and The Gambia who had been granted withholding from removal and deferral of removal under CAT. The government deported them to Ghana on September 5, and alerted plaintiffs of their destination only after they were boarded on the plane. Plaintiffs did not receive a reasonable fear interview or opportunity to express their fear of torture or persecution if removed to Ghana. On September 10, plaintiffs were informed by Ghanaian officials that they would be removed to their countries of origin.

The lawsuit alleges that the government's removal of plaintiffs to Ghana violates the Administrative Procedure Act, the withholding of removal statute, the Convention Against Torture, and the Fifth Amendment. It asks the Court to immediately enjoin defendants from removing plaintiffs to their countries of origin, facilitate the return of plaintiffs to the United States, and block defendants from using Ghana as a transit hub in removal proceedings. D.A. v. Noem, No. 1:25-cv-03135 (D.D.C.).

**Link to case here. Our litigation entries generally report only the initial complaint and any major substantive filings or decisions. For additional information, CourtListener provides access to PACER and all available pleadings. Other sites that track litigation in more detail or organize cases by topic include Civil Rights Clearinghouse, Justice Action Center, National Immigration Litigation Alliance, and Just Security**

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.09.15 Order Denying Relief - D.A. v. Noem

District Judge Tanya Chutkan denied plaintiffs' request for a temporary restraining order. The court noted that the government's actions "appear to be taken in disregard of or despite its obligations to provide individuals present in the United States with due process," but found that the plaintiffs did not meet their burden to establish that the court had jurisdiction to order relief. The court explained that it lacks the power to order Ghana to keep the plaintiffs in Ghana or the United States to order a foreign government to take action. It distinguished this case from that of Abrego Garcia's, where the government conceded that he was improperly removed from the United States. D.A. v. Noem, No. 1:25-cv-03135 (D.D.C.).

**Link to case here. See litigation note above**

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.09.26 Reported: U.N. Human Rights Office Asks Ghana to Halt Deportations of Migrants Sent From U.S. - New York Times

The New York Times reports that the United Nations' Committee Against Torture requested Ghana to halt the deportations of the five migrants from D.A. v. Noem, No. 1:25-cv-03135 (D.D.C.), from being returned to their home countries. This request adds diplomatic pressure on Ghana to comply with the Convention Against Torture, to which Ghana is a party.

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.11.21 Reported: Woman deported from Maryland shown on video being dragged in Ghana - NBC Washington

NBC Washington reports on a video of a woman who lived in Maryland for 30 years after immigrating from Sierra Leone being dragged by officials in Ghana who were forcibly repatriating her to Sierra Leone. She was detained while attending an ICE check-in in July 2025 and deported to Ghana pursuant to the United States' third-country agreement with Ghana. An immigration judge had granted an order saying she could not be sent back to Sierra Leone. However, her lawyer states that she was not provided with the opportunity to seek relief from deportation to a third country. The video raises concerns of chain refoulement.