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Honduran man deported to Central African Republic ordered returned after due process violation

Sep 25, 2026·Location: CO

Country of origin: Honduras

Honduran man deported to Central African Republic ordered returned after due process violation
Photo via english.elpais.com

Bryan Omar Sánchez, a Honduran man who had lived in Colorado for about a decade working as a gardener, truck driver, and pressure-washing business owner, was detained by ICE at his home on May 13 and moved through detention centers in Texas and Arizona. Despite a 2020 Convention Against Torture protection barring his return to Honduras and a pending asylum claim, he was placed on a nearly 22-hour flight to the Central African Republic on July 29 without his consent; one officer reportedly mocked him, asking 'Hey, Honduras, why are you going to Africa?' while Sánchez protested, 'Africa? I can't go to Africa.' Once in Bangui, he described being held in a shelter with restricted movement, facing language barriers and limited access to services, prompting Honduras' National Human Rights Commissioner (Conadeh) to demand urgent consular assistance and verification of his well-being. While detained, Sánchez represented himself in filings with Colorado's federal court, arguing he should not have been removed to a country he had never visited. U.S. District Judge Regina M. Rodríguez ruled that ICE violated his due process rights by giving him no notice or opportunity to challenge the removal, and ordered the government to return him to Colorado and release him without conditions such as GPS monitoring.

Timeline

Sep 25, 2026—Further reporting detailed his self-represented court filings and the judge's finding that he had no notice or opportunity to challenge removal
Sep 21, 2026—Additional reporting detailed his 2020 Convention Against Torture protection and the court's findings
Sep 18, 2026—Federal Judge Regina M. Rodríguez ruled his removal violated due process and ordered his return to Colorado and release without conditions
Aug 14, 2026—Honduras' human rights commission (Conadeh) demanded a probe and urgent consular assistance, citing fears for his safety
Aug 1, 2026—Arrived in Bangui and was held in a shelter with restricted movement, facing language barriers and limited services
Jul 29, 2026—Deported to the Central African Republic on a nearly 22-hour flight without his consent; an officer mocked him about the destination
May 13, 2026—Detained by ICE at his home in Colorado
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