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Torture survivor deported to Congo despite court protection; judge's order to return reversed

Jun 15, 2026 · Washington, DC, Colombia

Torture survivor deported to Congo despite court protection; judge's order to return reversed

Adriana Quiroz Zapata, a 53-year-old Colombian national and torture survivor with New Jersey ties, was detained by ICE in August 2024 after re-entering the United States despite a prior removal order. In February 2025, she passed a Reasonable Fear Interview and received withholding of removal under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). Despite these protections, ICE deported her to the Democratic Republic of the Congo on April 16, 2026—a country where she has no ties and where she cannot receive adequate medical care for her chronic conditions. On May 14, 2026, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to return her, ruling the deportation likely illegal. However, on June 15, 2026, the judge reversed that order after the administration produced evidence claiming the DRC had agreed to accept her, leaving Zapata in the DRC.

Timeline

Jun 15, 2026Federal judge reversed order to return Quiroz Zapata after administration produced evidence of DRC agreement to accept her
May 14, 2026Federal judge ordered Trump administration to return Quiroz Zapata to United States, ruling deportation likely illegal
Apr 16, 2026ICE deported Quiroz Zapata to Democratic Republic of the Congo despite CAT protections
Feb 1, 2025Quiroz Zapata passed Reasonable Fear Interview and received withholding of removal under Convention Against Torture
Aug 1, 2024Adriana Quiroz Zapata detained by ICE after re-entering the United States despite prior removal order

Sources

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