Five migrants resist Liberia deportation, forced off plane in Equatorial Guinea
Aug 20, 2026

Five people the U.S. attempted to deport to Liberia this week refused to leave the plane upon landing and were instead flown to Equatorial Guinea, according to sources familiar with the incident. The group included three Cuban men, one Brazilian man, and one Cameroonian woman, who were told they would be returned to the U.S. but were instead forced to disembark in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. They are now being held with more than 30 other migrants previously sent there under a similar third-country deportation deal, which human rights groups have criticized for poor conditions and lack of legal aid.
Sources
- Reuters
- Migrants who resisted deportation to Liberia under Trump deal sent to Equatorial Guinea, sources say
straitstimes.com·Aug 22, 2026·archived copy
- Migrants flown to Equatorial Guinea after resisting Liberia deportation under Trump deal, sources say
theprint.in·Aug 21, 2026·archived copy
thestar.com.my·Aug 22, 2026·archived copy
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