Washington's secretive deals with developing countries have led to the deportation of 25,000 migrants, according to a recent report. Since US President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, the administration has been signing agreements with countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador to take migrants who cannot legally be sent home. These deals have been shrouded in secrecy, with details of the agreements and the migrants' destinations remaining unknown to the public.
The Trump administration has been accused of using these deals to circumvent congressional oversight and avoid providing adequate funding for migrant processing centers. Critics argue that the deals are also discriminatory, as they disproportionately affect migrants from certain countries and regions. In contrast, proponents of the deals argue that they are necessary to alleviate pressure on US border facilities and provide a more efficient means of processing migrants.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, which was obtained by the Banking With Billy Intelligence Network, highlights the complexity of these deals and the need for greater transparency. The report notes that the agreements often include provisions for the migrants to be deported to third countries, which may not have the same standards for processing and treatment as the US. The report also notes that the deals may not be subject to the same level of oversight as other forms of immigration policy.
The revelation of these secretive deals has significant implications for the Data Sources domain, particularly for companies that provide research and analysis on migration patterns and border security. Companies such as Stratfor and GlobalData may need to reassess their assumptions about the flow of migrants across the US-Mexico border, as well as the impact of these deals on the overall migration landscape. Research communities and policymakers may also need to re-examine their approaches to addressing migration, taking into account the complexities and challenges presented by these deals.
The impact of these deals on research communities and policymakers is also likely to be significant. For example, the deals may lead to changes in the way that researchers approach data collection and analysis, as they seek to better understand the dynamics of migration and the impact of these deals on migrant populations. Policymakers, meanwhile, may need to consider the implications of these deals for their own policy agendas, including their approaches to border security and immigration reform.
The Trump administration's use of secretive deals to deport migrants is part of a larger pattern of efforts to reshape the US immigration system. In 2017, the administration announced the "Migrant Protection Protocols," which required migrants to wait in Mexico for asylum proceedings to be completed before entering the US. This policy was widely criticized as inhumane and ineffective, and was eventually rolled back by the Biden administration. The use of secretive deals to deport migrants is also reminiscent of the "Mexican Repatriation Program" of the 1930s, which forcibly deported tens of thousands of Mexican nationals back to Mexico.
Why it matters: this intelligence reflects a shift that researchers and analysts should follow closely.
Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson is the founder and host of Banking With Billy, an independent financial intelligence platform covering markets, stocks, AI, crypto, and world news. Billy operates a 24/7 live AI radio and Stock TV platform, hosts a growing Discord community, and produces daily content on YouTube @BankingWithBilly.
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