Migrants Sent to Third Country Under Controversial Policy
A US deportation flight carrying migrants from Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Georgia headed to the Central African Republic on Friday, according to lawyers familiar with the case.
The flight has drawn serious concern from immigration lawyers and rights advocates because some of those on board reportedly had legal protections against removal to their home countries.
The deportations are part of a wider third-country removal policy under President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Under this approach, migrants are not sent directly to their countries of origin. Instead, they may be sent to another country that agrees to receive them.
Lawyers say this raises major legal and humanitarian questions, especially when deportees have no connection, legal status or support network in the receiving country.
The Central African Republic is considered highly unstable. The US State Department has advised citizens not to travel there for any reason.
Iranian Deportees Raise Human Rights Alarm
The case has caused particular concern because Iranian nationals are among those affected.
Some Iranians on the flight reportedly fled Iran and had been granted withholding of removal by US immigration courts.
This protection is weaker than asylum, but it prevents deportation to a country where a person may face persecution, torture or serious harm.
Immigration lawyers fear that sending protected migrants to third countries could eventually lead to their forced return to the countries they originally fled.
Attorney Emily Trostle said there are concerns that deportees could be abandoned in a country where they have no status and no support.
The case has become more sensitive because Washington is currently at war with Iran, while US officials have described Iran as a hostile regime.
Rights advocates argue that deporting Iranian nationals during such conditions could place vulnerable people at greater risk.
Flight Route and Africa Deportation Deals Under Scrutiny
The flight reportedly departed from Alexandria, Louisiana, on Thursday evening.
Flight monitoring data showed a scheduled stopover in Ghana on Friday before the plane continued toward the Central African Republic.
Ghana has also been used as a hub for third-country deportations.
It was not immediately clear whether some deportees were removed from the plane in Ghana or whether all continued to Bangui.
The US administration has expanded deportation arrangements with several African countries in recent months.
Lawyers and rights groups have criticized these deals for being opaque and lacking proper safeguards.
Previous deportees sent to some African countries have alleged poor holding conditions, prolonged detention and fear of onward removal to their home countries.
There are also concerns about what will happen to migrants once they arrive in the Central African Republic.
The country has faced years of insecurity, armed groups and political instability.
Although international peacekeepers, Rwandan troops and Russian-backed forces have helped improve security in some areas, armed groups remain active across parts of the country.
The latest flight is expected to intensify scrutiny of US immigration policy, third-country deportation deals and the treatment of migrants with legal protections.
Rights groups are likely to continue challenging similar removals through courts and international human rights bodies.
