Eighteen migrants from countries including Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt were flown from Alexandria Airport in Louisiana to Bangui, Central African Republic, on a deportation flight that reportedly cost around $1.2 million. Several migrants said they were handcuffed and shackled, and two said they refused to board and were forced into full-body restraints; a U.S. official denied allegations of beatings. Most of the migrants had previously won protection orders from U.S. judges barring their removal to their home countries due to risk of persecution, torture or death, but were nonetheless sent to a country they have no ties to, where they now live in fear, facing malaria, extortion by local police and uncertainty after their three-month visas expire. A second flight carrying more than 40 additional migrants, including people from Iran and Afghanistan, was sent to the Central African Republic in the following months.