Banished: the secret Trump deals sending migrants across the world

The episode opens with the story of Rabiatu Kwiate, a nurse from Sierra Leone, who was living in the U.S. for over 30 years before being unexpectedly detained during a routine immigration check. After being told she had an order of removal, she was handcuffed and transported to a detention center before being sent to Ghana, a country she had never lived in. Upon arrival, she was informed that she would be sent back to Sierra Leone, where she faced the political persecution she had fled from. This episode highlights a disturbing trend under the Trump administration where immigrants, often without any criminal records, are deported to third countries with which they have no connection. Since 2025, it is reported that 25,000 immigrants have been sent to various countries globally, including Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, and Rwanda. The investigative journalist Louisa Loveluck details the significant human consequences of these policies, revealing how deported individuals often end up in precarious situations, facing further risks of persecution or violence. Additionally, the episode explores the financial motivations behind these deportation deals, indicating that the U.S. pays millions to other governments to accept these deportees while at the same time cutting humanitarian aid.