US administration deports Cuban migrants to Central African Republic

The Trump administration has expanded its use of “third-country” removals, a practice where migrants are deported to nations other than their country of nationality. This strategy is utilized when the United States cites legal restrictions, diplomatic complications, or other obstacles to returning individuals to their home countries.

In a recent instance, a group of Cuban immigrants who had lived and worked in Florida were deported to Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. Among them is Yasmany Moreno, a former asylum seeker under temporary protected status who reported being unaware of his destination until several hours into the flight. Moreno and approximately 35 others are currently in Bangui without passports or clear information regarding their legal status or future movements.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have raised concerns regarding the transparency and due process of these removals. Critics argue that the policy places deportees in regions where they lack family ties, community connections, and familiarity with local languages and legal systems. The administration maintains that these agreements with partner countries provide a necessary mechanism to execute removal orders.