Explainer: The Trump Administration's Expulsion of Immigrants to "Bridge Countries"
- Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law
- Apr 16
- 5 min read
Published April 17, 2025
Under the current Trump Administration, immigrants are being forcibly expelled without due process to third-countries rather than being deported to their home countries, as has historically been the process. This type of expulsion is not normal, and it is occurring without necessary legal safeguards. This Explainer attempts to provide a brief overview of what is currently known about the Administration’s practice of expelling immigrants to “bridge countries.” This information, however, is subject to change, as the Administration continues to alter its immigration policies and practices.
What are “Bridge Country” Expulsions?
When an immigrant enters the United States, they have a right to request asylum in the country, and even if asylum is not granted, that immigrant cannot be deported to a country where they would be persecuted or harmed. In most cases, when an undocumented immigrant is found ineligible for asylum and deportable, they are returned to their “home” country - usually the country where they were born or have citizenship.
The Trump Administration, however, is now trying to implement a provision of U.S. law that allows the President to “suspend the entry” of certain immigrants under “emergency” circumstances. On this basis, the Administration has begun a new practice where asylum-seekers are forcibly expelled to countries other than their home country, sometimes referred to as a “bridge country” or “transit country.” These asylum-seekers have not been given the opportunity to apply for asylum in the United States or explain that they would be harmed in their home country if deported prior to being expelled to the “bridge country.” Moreover, they are not informed of the “bridge country” they will be expelled to in advance, preventing them from expressing fear of harm from being sent there too.
News media have called this new practice “Bridge Deportations.” However, these expulsions should not be considered “deportations” but instead “renditions.” Rendition is the unlawful practice of expelling individuals from one country to the custody of another, where not only do they face a higher risk of abuse or harm but also lack the protections of judicial oversight.
Information is still being gathered about this new practice, and it is currently being challenged in court.
Who is at Risk of Being Sent to a “Bridge Country?”
Many of the asylum-seekers who have been expelled to “bridge countries” so far hailed from home countries which will not accept them. Typically, these countries do not have the appropriate diplomatic ties with the U.S., which makes expelling asylum-seekers to those countries more challenging for the U.S. In some cases, the U.S. has also expelled an asylum-seeker to a “bridge country” when that person cannot be returned to their home country because they would be persecuted or harmed.
Currently, the U.S. has sent asylum-seekers primarily from Asia, eastern Europe, and Africa to “bridge countries.” Available information suggests that these asylum-seekers have been from places such as Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Jordan. Other countries are likely included as well, and this list may change over time.
What “Bridge Countries” are Immigrants Sent To?
Early in the Administration, Panama and Costa Rica agreed with the U.S. to act as “bridge countries.” It is unclear whether these countries will continue to act as “bridge countries” moving forward.
Honduras has also acted as a “bridge country,” albeit a bit differently than Panama and Costa Rica. The U.S. has flown expelled asylum-seekers to Honduras, where they briefly stop-over before being deported by Honduras to their home country.
It is possible that in the future, as the Trump Administration continues to pursue additional “bridge country” agreements, other countries may also accept asylum-seekers expelled under this practice.
What Happens to Immigrants Expelled to “Bridge Countries?”
The practice of expelling asylum-seekers to “bridge countries” is very new. Information is still being gathered about the details of these processes. The explanation provided here is based on the information currently available and may change.
Currently, when an asylum-seeker has been sent to a “bridge country,” they have been flown to that country. Once there, they are taken to a holding facility - whether a hotel or a detention facility. In the cases of Panama and Costa Rica, government officials then arranged flights for the asylum-seekers to their home countries which sometimes took up to several weeks. Similar processes for expulsions to “bridge countries” may occur in the future, whether to Panama, Costa Rica, or other countries.
While the asylum-seekers await their flights to their home countries, they will typically remain in the holding facilities. If an asylum-seeker does not agree to a return flight to their home country, they will likely be sent to a second different holding facility. In Panama, for example, asylum-seekers who were not sent to their home countries were sent to a second holding facility in the Darien Jungle. In holding facilities, some asylum-seekers have been able to keep their phones while others have not.
Prior to being expelled to a “bridge country,” asylum-seekers should consider writing their most important phone numbers on a piece of paper to keep with them at all times.
Asylum-seekers expelled to “bridge countries” may also have their important documents - such as their passports, IDs, or birth certificates - taken away from them.
Asylum-seekers should make sure to leave photocopies of all their important documents with a loved one and their lawyer, if they have one.
For asylum-seekers flown to Honduras, however, it so far appears that they have been there only briefly before being deported to their home country. Available information suggests that Honduras is only acting as a “bridge country” for Venezuelan immigrants given the country’s close diplomatic ties to Venezuela.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), which is a United Nations organization, is currently responsible for helping ensure that the basic human rights of asylum-seekers expelled to “bridge countries” are protected. Both an IOM Regional Office and an IOM Costa Rica Office are located in San Jose, Costa Rica and can be emailed at rosanjose@iom.int and oimcostarica@iom.int or reached by phone at +506 4052 3400 and +506 4052 3500.
Right now, there appears to be some possibility that an asylum-seeker who is transported to either Panama or Costa Rica may be able to seek asylum in those countries or request removal to another third-country if they fear being returned to their home country. The United Nations is conducting interviews with some asylum-seekers expelled to “bridge countries,” and if given an interview, this may be an opportunity for asylum-seekers to (1) express fear of returning to their home country and (2) request asylum in the “bridge country” or to be deported to another third-country. There is not enough information at this time, however, to provide a more thorough explanation of this process or its true availability or consequence.
Seeking an Attorney’s Advice
If you or a loved one believe you are at risk of being sent to a “bridge country” through the new practice of the Trump Administration, it is important that you immediately seek the advice of a U.S. immigration attorney to better understand your rights and options.
This Explainer is not a substitute for legal advice from an immigration attorney.
The explainer is available to download in English, Spanish/Español, Russian, Hindi, Arabic, Chinese - Simplified, and Chinese - Traditional.
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