KQED's Forum Trump Expanding Third-Country Removals of Asylum Seekers in California
Dec 19, 2025
Dr. Yael Schacher, an immigration law historian, and Nicole Gorney, an immigration attorney, explore the controversial third-country removal policy under the Trump administration. They discuss how 8,000 people were deported to unfamiliar places like Costa Rica, violating legal rights and creating dire consequences. German, a Russian whistleblower, shares his harrowing journey and the challenges faced by asylum seekers navigating this system. The guests elaborate on the legal implications, pressures on clients, and the expansion’s historical context in immigration policy.
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Reporter Visits Remote Detention Site
- José "Caya" Cayasso investigated the plane that landed near Panama and reported on the remote detention site.
- He described the facility as a rusty, out-of-the-way former factory near the Panama border with terrible conditions.
Executive Order Enabled Mass Expulsions
- The Trump proclamation suspended asylum access at the border and has been used to summarily expel asylum seekers.
- This order allowed the administration to bypass credible-fear screenings and typical asylum procedures.
Agreements Leverage Geopolitics Over Law
- The administration negotiates varied agreements to send asylum seekers to third countries, sometimes without formal written pacts.
- These deals use leverage like tariffs or visa threats to pressure smaller economies into accepting transfers.