Iranian woman among migrants deported from the U.S. to the Central African Republic
Lawyers said the first flight carried about 20 migrants, including an Iranian pro-democracy activist who had court protection from deportation to Iran.
- President Donald Trump deported about 20 migrants, including Iranians, Syrians, and Afghans, to the Central African Republic on Thursday. This marks the first such removal to the volatile, impoverished nation under a new third-country deportation deal.
- Aiming to fulfill campaign promises to curtail immigration, the White House is pursuing third-country deportation deals to remove individuals the United States cannot legally return home. This strategy bypasses repatriation barriers.
- Among the deportees are two Iranian women and a Syrian man holding "withholding of removal" status granted by United States judges due to credible torture fears. Lawyers warn that sending them to the Central African Republic endangers their lives.
- While the IOM pledged to provide "post-arrival humanitarian assistance" at the Central African Republic government's request, the agency clarified it is not involved in the removals. Rights groups remain concerned about migrants' long-term safety.
- Critics argue these opaque third-country deals, similar to past negotiations with Congo, prioritize political pledges over safety of vulnerable asylum seekers. The State Department warns against travel to the Central African Republic due to conflict and human rights abuses including torture.
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103 Articles
US deports migrants, including Iranian activist, to CAR
The number of migrants deported is not yet clear, but it is believed to be around two dozen. The Trump administration has signed controversial deals with several African countries to deport migrants it cannot send home.
The Central African Republic recently joined the list of countries cooperating with Washington.
A first plane carrying migrants deported from the United States landed in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), on Friday evening. This is evident from data from the ICE Flight Monitor used by the American NGO Human Rights First.
United States deports migrants, including Iranian women, to Central African Republic
The Iranian women had been granted protective measures due to the risk of persecution in their home country. They arrived in Bangui on Friday, June 12, even though the CAR is considered by Washington to be one of the most dangerous countries in the world.
These expulsions of illegal foreign nationals to "third countries" have become an essential element of Donald Trump's anti-immigration policy.
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