Democrats look to investigate third-party deportations after midterms

Democrats are warning of a potential congressional investigation into the Trump administration's secretive third-country deportation program if they gain control of one or both chambers in the upcoming midterms. This comes after two recent incidents: the deportation of migrants from the US to Equatorial Guinea, where police were filmed pointing guns at the deportees, and the deportation of an Afghan man to the Central African Republic, despite a judicial protection order and the man's connections to the Afghan military and a pilot killed by the Taliban.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, denounced the administration's actions as "abhorrent" and pledged to "continue to investigate this matter." Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed alarm and said Democrats would demand accountability if they take control of the Senate in the midterms.

Sen. Chris Coons, also a committee member, called the deportations "lawlessness" and said Democrats should address them next year. Sen. Tim Kaine described the arrangements as a "stain on our country's honor" and noted Republicans' obstruction of legislation to shed light on the deals. Democrats have questioned the administration's arrangements with other countries, particularly in Africa, but have received little information due to the administration's refusal to comply with Senate Democrats' inquiries.