{"entries": [{"id": "guatemala-aca-2019", "country": "Guatemala", "region": "latin-america-caribbean", "era": "legacy", "category": "aca", "status": "terminated", "status_detail": "TERMINATED (legacy). Suspended with immediate effect Feb 6, 2021 (Secretary Blinken); termination effective May 4, 2021. The only one of the three 2019 ACAs ever implemented; transfers had paused in mid-March 2020 (COVID-19).", "instrument": "Asylum Cooperative Agreement — 'Agreement … on Cooperation Regarding the Examination of Protection Claims' (signed July 26, 2019, by Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan)", "date_announced": "2019-07-26", "date_signed": "2019-07-26", "entry_into_force": "2019 (exact date not retrieved from a primary page — gap; implementation began November 2019)", "us_signatory": "Acting Secretary Kevin K. McAleenan", "partner_signatory": "Not stated", "text_published": "yes", "text_url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/11/20/2019-25288/agreement-between-the-government-of-the-united-states-of-america-and-the-government-of-the-republic", "text_note": "Text published in the Federal Register, 84 FR 64095 (Nov 20, 2019). The implementing rule is at 84 FR 63994.", "consideration": "No payment/consideration verified from a fetched primary page — gap. (GAO-21-104366 documents that the Oct 2019 resumption of US aid to the Northern Triangle cited the ACAs — context, not a stated ACA price.)", "consideration_disclosed": false, "scope": "Asylum seekers / protection claims only. Not applicable to Guatemalan citizens or residents. The American Immigration Council noted the agreement on its face applied to any person entering the US without a visa, with no requirement of prior transit through Guatemala.", "removals": "939–945 Honduran and Salvadoran asylum seekers transferred Nov 2019–Mar 2020 (sources differ on the total); ~20 applied for asylum in Guatemala; NONE was granted asylum there (Senate report finding, via HRW-hosted letter). The registry records the range rather than a single number.", "removals_number": 945, "assurances": "Guatemala designated a safe country for protection-claims examination (challenged in litigation).", "legal_challenges": "U.T. v. Barr, 1:20-cv-00116 (D.D.C.), filed Jan 15, 2020 (ACLU et al.) — challenged the implementing rule and the Guatemala designation; held in abeyance from Feb 2021 and reactivated in the second Trump term as U.T. v. Bondi.", "notes": "Legacy entry — distinct from Guatemala's 2025 agreement. Termination effective dates are per GAO-21-104366.", "sources": [{"label": "Federal Register — Guatemala ACA, 84 FR 64095", "url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/11/20/2019-25288/agreement-between-the-government-of-the-united-states-of-america-and-the-government-of-the-republic"}, {"label": "ACLU-DC — U.T. v. Barr case page", "url": "https://www.acludc.org/cases/ut-v-barr-challenging-government-policy-sending-asylum-seekers-dangerous-countries/"}, {"label": "Immigration Policy Tracking Project — Guatemala ACA", "url": "https://immpolicytracking.org/policies/dhs-signs-third-country-agreement-to-deport-migrants-to-guatemala/"}], "flights": "—", "foia": "Text published in the Federal Register at the time. The American Immigration Council filed FOIA requests to DHS and State on Sept 17, 2019 about the signing and the safety evaluation; their production status is not documented on AIC's page — gap.", "leverage": null, "shadow": null}, {"id": "honduras-aca-2019", "country": "Honduras", "region": "latin-america-caribbean", "era": "legacy", "category": "aca", "status": "terminated", "status_detail": "TERMINATED (legacy) — and NEVER IMPLEMENTED (Blinken statement, Feb 6, 2021). Termination effective August 5, 2021.", "instrument": "Asylum Cooperative Agreement — 'Agreement … for Cooperation in the Examination of Protection Claims'", "date_announced": "2019-09-25", "date_signed": "2019-09-25", "entry_into_force": "Never implemented", "us_signatory": "Not stated", "partner_signatory": "Not stated", "text_published": "yes", "text_url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/05/01/2020-09322/agreement-between-the-government-of-the-united-states-of-america-and-the-government-of-the-republic", "text_note": "Text published in the Federal Register, 85 FR 25462 (May 1, 2020).", "consideration": "None verified from a fetched page — gap.", "consideration_disclosed": false, "scope": "Asylum seekers / protection claims only (the 2019 ACA model).", "removals": "0 — never implemented.", "removals_number": 0, "assurances": "—", "legal_challenges": "Covered by the ACA-framework litigation (U.T. v. Barr); no Honduras-specific 2019 challenge verified.", "notes": "Legacy entry — distinct from Honduras's 2025 ACA. Termination effective dates are per GAO-21-104366.", "sources": [{"label": "Federal Register — Honduras ACA, 85 FR 25462", "url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/05/01/2020-09322/agreement-between-the-government-of-the-united-states-of-america-and-the-government-of-the-republic"}, {"label": "Migration Policy Institute — typology analysis", "url": "https://www.migrationpolicy.org/commentary/us-third-country-deportation-agreements-are-more-about-fear-numbers"}], "flights": "—", "foia": "Text published in the Federal Register at the time.", "leverage": null, "shadow": null}, {"id": "el-salvador-aca-2019", "country": "El Salvador", "region": "latin-america-caribbean", "era": "legacy", "category": "aca", "status": "terminated", "status_detail": "TERMINATED (legacy) — and NEVER IMPLEMENTED (Blinken statement, Feb 6, 2021). Termination effective August 4, 2021.", "instrument": "Asylum Cooperative Agreement — 'Agreement … for Cooperation in the Examination of Protection Claims'", "date_announced": "2019-09-20", "date_signed": "2019-09-20", "entry_into_force": "Never implemented", "us_signatory": "Not stated", "partner_signatory": "Not stated", "text_published": "yes", "text_url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/12/22/2020-28136/agreement-between-the-government-of-the-united-states-of-america-and-the-government-of-the-republic", "text_note": "Text published in the Federal Register, 85 FR 83597 (Dec 22, 2020).", "consideration": "None verified for the 2019 ACA — gap. Do NOT import the 2025 CECOT-era figures into this entry.", "consideration_disclosed": false, "scope": "Asylum seekers / protection claims only (the 2019 ACA model).", "removals": "0 under the 2019 ACA — never implemented.", "removals_number": 0, "assurances": "—", "legal_challenges": "Covered by the ACA-framework litigation (U.T. v. Barr); no El Salvador-specific 2019 challenge verified.", "notes": "Legacy entry — a different instrument from the March 2025 incarceration arrangement. Termination effective dates are per GAO-21-104366.", "sources": [{"label": "Federal Register — El Salvador ACA, 85 FR 83597", "url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/12/22/2020-28136/agreement-between-the-government-of-the-united-states-of-america-and-the-government-of-the-republic"}, {"label": "Migration Policy Institute — typology analysis", "url": "https://www.migrationpolicy.org/commentary/us-third-country-deportation-agreements-are-more-about-fear-numbers"}], "flights": "—", "foia": "Text published in the Federal Register at the time.", "leverage": null, "shadow": null}, {"id": "canada-stca", "country": "Canada", "region": "north-america", "era": "canada", "category": "aca", "status": "in_effect", "status_detail": "IN EFFECT — the standing precedent. Canada.ca: 'The STCA and the Additional Protocol continue to be in effect.'", "instrument": "Safe Third Country Agreement — bilateral treaty (Canada Treaty Series 2004/2) + Additional Protocol (2023)", "date_announced": "—", "date_signed": "2002-12-05", "entry_into_force": "2004-12-29", "us_signatory": "Arthur E. Dewey (for the US)", "partner_signatory": "Bertin Côté (for Canada)", "text_published": "yes", "text_url": "https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/agreements/safe-third-country-agreement.html", "text_note": "Full treaty text published officially by Canada — the registry's transparency outlier: a negotiated, published, reciprocal treaty. Additional Protocol text: Canada Treaty Information (E105722).", "consideration": "None — a reciprocal responsibility-sharing treaty; no payment. (The March 2023 expansion was announced alongside Canada agreeing to admit 15,000 additional people from the Western Hemisphere via legal pathways — political context, not treaty consideration.)", "consideration_disclosed": true, "scope": "Refugee claimants at the Canada–US land border must request protection in the first of the two countries they reach. Exceptions: family member, unaccompanied minors, document holder, public interest. The Additional Protocol (in effect 12:01 a.m. EDT Mar 25, 2023) extends the agreement across the entire land border including internal waterways, for claims made within 14 days of crossing between ports of entry.", "removals": "Not applicable as a removals figure — the instrument operates by ineligibility/return at the border. No aggregate return figure verified — gap.", "removals_number": null, "assurances": "Reciprocal designation of each country as safe for claimants, with statutory exceptions.", "legal_challenges": "Canadian Council for Refugees v. Canada: Federal Court (Jul 22, 2020) found a Charter s.7 violation; Federal Court of Appeal (Apr 15, 2021) overturned; Supreme Court of Canada (Jun 16, 2023, 2023 SCC 17) upheld the designation on s.7 and REMITTED the undecided s.15 equality claim to the Federal Court (status of the remittal: gap). A reported 2025 judicial-review application argues the US no longer has a functional asylum system — unverified from a primary source.", "notes": "Included as the standing precedent: signed 2002, in force 2004, expanded 2023 — and, unlike almost every 2025–26 instrument, fully public from the start.", "sources": [{"label": "Canada.ca — Safe Third Country Agreement", "url": "https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/agreements/safe-third-country-agreement.html"}, {"label": "Canada Treaty Information — Additional Protocol text", "url": "https://treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?lcid=1033&id=105722&t=638644004622866379"}, {"label": "Supreme Court of Canada — 2023 SCC 17", "url": "https://www.scc-csc.gc.ca/judgments-jugements/cb/2023/39749/"}], "flights": "—", "foia": "Treaty text officially published; no FOIA involved.", "leverage": null, "shadow": null}, {"id": "libya-annex", "country": "Libya", "region": "africa", "era": "annex", "category": "annex", "status": "attempted", "status_detail": "ANNEX — attempted transfer only; NOT counted as an agreement. In May 2025 the US bussed 13 migrants in Texas to a military aircraft bound for Libya; an emergency court motion blocked the transfer and the plane did not depart. Libya's Government of National Unity categorically denies any agreement; both Libyan governments denied a deal.", "instrument": "Unknown — if any arrangement exists, it is unconfirmed", "date_announced": "May 2025 (attempted flight reported)", "date_signed": "Unknown", "entry_into_force": "—", "us_signatory": "—", "partner_signatory": "—", "text_published": "no", "text_url": "", "text_note": "No text exists in any channel located.", "consideration": "Not disclosed.", "consideration_disclosed": false, "scope": "Not stated.", "removals": "No transfers completed.", "removals_number": 0, "assurances": "Not stated.", "legal_challenges": "D.V.D. v. DHS (emergency motion / injunction blocked the flight).", "notes": "Included in HRF's Dec 2025 UN submission list and counted by MPI among its 27 — the trackers disagree on treatment; the registry follows TCDW: attempted, not an agreement. Reporting indicates discussions continued despite the denials.", "sources": [{"label": "Third Country Deportation Watch — Libya", "url": "https://www.thirdcountrydeportationwatch.org/libya"}], "flights": "The May 2025 flight never departed.", "foia": "No instrument located.", "leverage": null, "shadow": null}, {"id": "poland-annex", "country": "Poland", "region": "europe", "era": "annex", "category": "annex", "status": "layover", "status_detail": "ANNEX — layover/transit only; NOT counted as an agreement. Poland appears in the record as a transit point (e.g., Ukrainians removed to Ukraine via Rzeszów; multi-stop ICE Air routings), and TCDW's methodology expressly EXCLUDES mere layovers where the third country has not agreed to process or accept people. Its TCDW country page returned 404 when checked Oct 20, 2026.", "instrument": "None identified", "date_announced": "—", "date_signed": "—", "entry_into_force": "—", "us_signatory": "—", "partner_signatory": "—", "text_published": "no", "text_url": "", "text_note": "No instrument located.", "consideration": "None identified.", "consideration_disclosed": false, "scope": "Transit only.", "removals": "No third-country acceptances documented; removals routed VIA Poland are removals to origin countries.", "removals_number": 0, "assurances": "—", "legal_challenges": "—", "notes": "MPI lists Poland under 'Deportation Bridge' — the registry records the disagreement and follows TCDW's methodology (layover ≠ agreement). ICE Flight Monitor confirms flights to Poland on Nov 18, 2025 and Mar 17, 2026 (×2) within multi-country routings.", "sources": [{"label": "Third Country Deportation Watch — methodology (layover exclusion)", "url": "https://www.thirdcountrydeportationwatch.org/"}, {"label": "Migration Policy Institute — typology analysis", "url": "https://www.migrationpolicy.org/commentary/us-third-country-deportation-agreements-are-more-about-fear-numbers"}], "flights": "Confirmed ICE Air routings via Poland: Nov 18, 2025; Mar 17, 2026 (×2).", "foia": "No instrument located.", "leverage": null, "shadow": null}, {"id": "nicaragua-annex", "country": "Nicaragua", "region": "latin-america-caribbean", "era": "annex", "category": "annex", "status": "no_agreement", "status_detail": "ANNEX — documented transfers, NO public agreement. USCRI documents 116 foreign nationals deported to Nicaragua between Jan 2025 and June 2026 (Honduras 22, Cuba 19, Ecuador 17, others) with 'no publicly available agreement … as of June 2026.' USCRI suggests case-by-case family/self requests may explain some transfers.", "instrument": "None public", "date_announced": "—", "date_signed": "—", "entry_into_force": "—", "us_signatory": "—", "partner_signatory": "—", "text_published": "no", "text_url": "", "text_note": "No instrument located in any channel.", "consideration": "None documented.", "consideration_disclosed": false, "scope": "Not stated.", "removals": "116 foreign nationals deported to Nicaragua, Jan 2025–June 2026 (USCRI).", "removals_number": 116, "assurances": "—", "legal_challenges": "—", "notes": "USCRI-only coverage; TCDW has no Nicaragua entry. Included so the registry records the transfers honestly without inventing an agreement.", "sources": [{"label": "USCRI TCD Tracker", "url": "https://refugees.org/tcdtracker"}], "flights": "—", "foia": "No agreement records located.", "leverage": null, "shadow": null}]}