The programme is there for the convenience of the airlines. If someone arrives in the US and is denied entry, the airline is on the hook to fly them back. It's much better for them for the traveler to be denied before even boarding.

The program is there for the convenience of Irish travelers. They can clear immigration and then when they arrive they are treated as domestic arrivals and save a lot of time.

It provides a good amount of convenience for US citizens, certainly.

Let's talk about Toronto or Vancouver to set aside CIA whatever. What particular convenience does it provide for the US government to do it there vs on the US side? AFAICT that would save the airline that brought a person who got denied a bit of trouble - vs having to take them back to their departure airport - but not be a particularly huge convenience or burden for either government at a higher-up level.

> The programme is there for the convenience of the US. Would they allow Ireland to operate a corresponding facility on US soil?

FWIW, I recall reading that the program in Canada is reciprocal, and it is simply the case that Canada hasn't decided to operate any corresponding facility in the US.

CIA torture flights?