US deportation flight carrying Iranians lands in Central African Republic
TLE Desk: A US deportation flight carrying nationals from Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Georgia landed in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Friday as part of the Trump administration’s expanding policy of sending migrants to third countries, reports AFP.
The flight arrived in the Central African capital Bangui after departing from Louisiana and making a stop in Ghana, according to lawyers and rights activists monitoring the case.
Among those on board were at least two Iranian women who had previously been granted “withholding of removal” status in the United States, a form of legal protection that prevents deportation to a person’s home country due to safety concerns.
Their lawyer, Emily Trostle, expressed concern that deportees could eventually be sent back to the countries they originally fled.
“We fear they will ultimately be forced to return to the countries they originally fled,” Trostle told AFP.
The flight departed from Alexandria, Louisiana, on Thursday evening and landed in Bangui around 9:00 pm GMT on Friday, according to flight tracking information.
Lawyers familiar with the case said the deportees included individuals from Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Georgia who had legal protections preventing their return to their home countries.
It remains unclear whether any passengers were disembarked in Ghana, which has increasingly served as a transit point for US third-country deportations.
The move is part of a broader immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump, whose administration has expanded deportations to countries where migrants often have no family, legal status or support networks.
The US State Department currently advises Americans not to travel to the Central African Republic due to ongoing security risks, including armed conflict and violence.
Human rights advocates have raised concerns about conditions faced by deportees sent to African countries under similar arrangements. Previous deportees have reported poor detention conditions and uncertainty about their legal status after arrival.
The Central African Republic has not publicly detailed the terms of any agreement with Washington regarding the acceptance of deportees.
Civil society representatives in Bangui said authorities have provided little information about the arrivals or their future status in the country.
A US State Department spokesperson said Washington remains committed to combating illegal immigration but did not provide details about the arrangement with CAR.
Meanwhile, legal challenges continue against similar deportation agreements elsewhere in Africa, with rights groups warning that some deportees risk eventual return to countries where they may face persecution or harm.
