Senator Criticises Rubio for Paying $7.5 Million to Equatorial Guinea to Take Deportees
By The Vagabond News — November 11, 2025
Payment triggers Congressional alarm
The Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has written to Marco Rubio in his capacity as U.S. Secretary of State raising sharp concerns over a US$7.5 million payment made to the government of Equatorial Guinea. The funds were reportedly transferred via the Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) account in exchange for the country agreeing to accept non-citizen deportees from the United States. (AP News)
Shaheen’s letter describes the payment as “highly unusual” and raises questions about whether taxpayer funds are being used appropriately, given Equatorial Guinea’s long-standing reputation for corruption and rights abuses. (foreign.senate.gov)
Specific concerns raised
- The payment is a direct government-to-government transfer from an account typically used for humanitarian crises—marking a possible first of its kind. (ABC News)
- According to the letter, U.S. foreign assistance to Equatorial Guinea in the last eight years averaged under US$2 million per year, making this one payment of US$7.5 million nearly equal to “all the assistance provided … over the last eight years combined.” (foreign.senate.gov)
- Equatorial Guinea ranks very poorly on corruption indices (e.g., 173rd out of 180 countries in one ranking cited by Shaheen) and the State Department’s own Trafficking in Persons Report identifies official complicity in human-trafficking as a “significant concern”. (foreign.senate.gov)
- Senators and human-rights advocates ask what protections are in place for deportees sent to Equatorial Guinea: Will they face human-rights abuses, smuggling, or other serious risks? (The Guardian)
Administration response and policy context
The U.S. State Department declined detailed comment, stating only that implementing the administration’s immigration-and-border-control policies remains a “top priority”. (ABC News)
This payment is part of a broader push by the administration to negotiate “third-country” removal agreements—that is, countries agreeing to accept non-citizen deportees from the U.S. Even though Equatorial Guinea is not a traditional partner in this space, the deal signals the administration’s willingness to engage with nations with difficult human-rights records in service of its deportation agenda. (The Guardian)
Critics argue that the scheme may sidestep due-process protections and expose deportees to higher risk environments. (AP News)
Implications and wider questions
- The deal raises fundamental questions about how migration-related funds (originally earmarked for humanitarian relief and refugee support) are being repurposed for enforcement-oriented deals.
- If the $7.5 million payment is found inconsistent with Congressional intent or statutory limits on the MRA account, it could trigger oversight or legal inquiry.
- The precedent set may encourage further deals with states of poor human-rights standing, raising ethical and strategic concerns about U.S. foreign-policy consistency.
- For the deportees themselves, the lack of visible safeguards means they may face conditions in the receiving country that deviate sharply from U.S. standards of treatment and legal recourse.
What to watch next
- Senator Shaheen has requested a formal response from Secretary Rubio detailing the legal justification for the payment, any agreements between the parties, and protections for deportees. (foreign.senate.gov)
- Congressional hearings may follow, especially under the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s oversight mandate — members may press the State Department for detailed documentation and audits.
- Immigration-policy scholars and advocacy groups will likely scrutinize the framework of the “third-country” removals: Are proper safeguards built-in? Are deportees adequately informed and protected?
- Observers will watch whether the administration pursues similar payments with other nations—and whether transparency around such deals improves in response to criticism.
Related links:
- “Senate Democrat questions Trump administration’s $7.5 M payment to Equatorial Guinea” — Associated Press (ABC News)
- “US has sent $7.5 m to Equatorial Guinea to accept non-citizen deportees” — The Guardian (The Guardian)
- “Ranking Member Shaheen calls for answers from Secretary Rubio on $7.5 million in taxpayer funds sent to Equatorial Guinea for third-country removals” — Senate Foreign Relations Committee press release (foreign.senate.gov)
Sources:
[1] Associated Press, Nov 10 2025.
[2] Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Nov 10 2025.
[3] The Guardian, Nov 10 2025.
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