Four journalists beaten and detained in Cameroon while investigating U.S. deportations
Feb 20, 2026·Location: Yaoundé, CM
Country of origin: Cameroon

Four journalists and an attorney were detained by plainclothes police in Yaounde, Cameroon on February 19, 2026, while investigating Trump administration deportations of third-country immigrants to the African nation. The journalists were beaten during the detention, and their equipment was confiscated. They were attempting to interview recently deported individuals and film a facility holding deportees. All five people were later released. Press freedom groups raised alarm over the incident, which occurred as some deported immigrants were sent to Cameroon in violation of court orders protecting them from deportation to their home countries.
Timeline
Sources
- Freelance journalist detained in Cameroon while reporting for AP on US deportees
dailymaverick.co.za·Feb 20, 2026·archived copy
- Yaoundé: 4 journalists detained while investigating U.S. deportees
cameroonconcordnews.com·Feb 20, 2026·archived copy
- Seattle Times
- Journalists Snatched In Cameroon Detention Compound | US News Mag
- Reporter detained in Cameroon while investigating Trump admin’s Africa deportations
independent.co.uk·Feb 19, 2026·archived copy
- “Let the whole world know”: In Cameroon, investigating deportees from the United States can lead to detention
forbiddenstories.org·Sep 21, 2026
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