Legal process
Sent to a third country
Removed to a country that is NOT the person's own country of nationality (a Venezuelan sent to El Salvador, a Cuban sent to Mexico, an Iranian sent to Central African Republic). Never this code when the destination is the person's own country, however dangerous return is for them.
Documented in 20 states. Every well-documented story coded this way, grouped by state. See what accompanies it →
Arizona
Ahmed S.: Gay Arizona man deported, beaten in Equatorial GuineaAhmed Soliman, a gay Egyptian-born green card holder raised in Arizona since childhood, was deported to Equatorial Guinea under a third-country removal deal, then beaten and hospitalized after speaking to journalists about detention conditions.Tucson, AZ · Oct 22, 2026 · TimesLive, TBS News, News24 +14- Cuban asylum seeker deported by ICE to Ecuador after hunger strikesA Cuban asylum seeker held at Florence Correctional Center staged hunger strikes over detention conditions, then was placed in solitary confinement and deported to Ecuador, ending his U.S. legal case.Florence, AZ · Jul 13, 2026 · Arizona Mirror, News from the States
Khadija: Bisexual Ghanaian woman granted protection shackled and deported to Cameroon by ICEKhadija, a bisexual Ghanaian woman granted protection from deportation, was shackled and deported to Cameroon anyway in January 2026. She now lives in a crowded room there, afraid to go outside, with only temporary permission to stay.Eloy, AZ · Jan 2026 · Immigration Equality, Third Country Deportation Watch
Wrongfully deported Guatemalan asylum seeker brought backA Guatemalan asylum seeker identified as O.C.G., who fled violence at home and during border transit, was wrongly deported to Mexico and has now been returned under a judge's order. He remains held while his case continues.Phoenix, Arizona · May 21, 2025 · CNN, Associated Press, El Paso Times +1
Maria G.: Venezuelan mother, two children deported from Tucson, separated from husband and sonsMaria Gonzalez, 32, and her two young children were deported to Mexico hours after a Tucson traffic stop, separating them from her husband and two older sons still in Tucson.Tucson, AZ · Feb 11, 2025 · Arizona Luminaria, Calo News
Lázaro R.L.: Cuban construction worker deported by ICE against court order, homeless in MexicoLázaro Romero León, 59, a Cuban who lived in the U.S. over 30 years, was deported despite a judge's order blocking it and remains stranded homeless in Tapachula, Mexico, as of May 2026.Arizona · Feb 2025 · Magzter, CiberCuba
California
Arsalan S.F.: Iranian Christian convert deported to Panama without asylum hearing, stranded 18 monthsArsalan Saleh Fard, 25, an Iranian Christian convert who fled persecution, was deported to Panama without an asylum hearing in early 2025 and remains stranded there 18 months later.San Diego, CA · Sep 23, 2026 · Washington Post, Human Rights Watch, Nowlej- Ayana: San Diego mother in U.S. legally since age 2 deported to CameroonAyana, 40, lived legally in San Diego since age two, studying business and working as a nursing assistant, before ICE detained her at a residency renewal and flew her in shackles to Cameroon, a country with no ties to her.San Diego, CA · Sep 10, 2026 · Münchener Post, HCN Times, Magnify Post +2
Grandfather in U.S. 46 years deported to Mexico a month before retirementScull Delgado came to the U.S. in the 1980 Mariel boatlift, married, raised three children and four grandchildren, and was arrested at a routine check-in a month before retirement. He was deported to Mexico after nearly 46 years.California, CA · Jul 12, 2026 · Al Jazeera
José M.: Tamal vendor deported to Tijuana within two days, leaving family behindJosé Medina, 35, a tamal vendor, was arrested while selling tamales at a San Pedro 7-Eleven on Oct. 8, 2025. Community members sold his family's 720 unsold tamales after he signed a deportation order and left for Tijuana.San Pedro, CA · Oct 8, 2025 · LA Taco, Block Club Chicago, Chicago Sun-Times +2
Colorado
José B.: Purple Heart veteran with brain injury deported by ICE to MexicoJosé Barco, a Purple Heart veteran wounded by a 2004 Iraq explosion, was deported to Mexico on Veterans Day after Venezuela refused him. His citizenship paperwork, filed while on active duty, had been lost years earlier.Denver, CO · Nov 14, 2025 · El País, Rocky Mountain PBS, NPR +7
Gladys C.T.: Venezuelan mother with TPS deported to El Salvador, beaten in detentionGladys Yoleida Caricote Tovar, 28, a mother of three, was arrested in front of her children, had them placed in foster care, then deported despite a court order. She was later beaten in a Texas detention center.Colorado · Mar 15, 2025 · El País, USA Today, ABC News +1
District of Columbia
Florida
Yasmany M.A.: Cuban man deported to Central African Republic without warning falls illYasmany Noel Moreno-De Armas, a Cuban man who fled by raft and reunited with family in 2022, was deported to the Central African Republic without warning and now suffers high blood pressure and panic attacks.Miami, FL · Oct 9, 2026 · NPR, balleralert.com, Latin Times +4
Arístides F.G.: Cuban asylum seeker arrested by ICE, deported to Central African RepublicArístides Fernández García, a 37-year-old Cuban trucking company owner who fled Cuba in 2021, was arrested at a Miami courthouse and deported to the Central African Republic after losing 60 pounds in detention.“I had a trucking company, I paid taxes, I never got a traffic ticket. I did everything right. I left a dictatorship only to enter into a [form of] terrorism. I never thought they were going to send me to Africa; I thought that was impossible. I’m not a terrorist, I’m not a criminal.” — Arístides Fernández GarcíaMiami, FL · Oct 9, 2026 · El País, LA Taco, News 247 Plus +13
Yasmani M.A.: Diabetic Cuban man detained by ICE, deported to Central African RepublicYasmani Noel Moreno de Armas, 31, a Cuban who ran a trucking business supporting his parents, was deported not to Cuba but to the Central African Republic, where he says he was kidnapped twice and remains without legal status.“My world came crashing down. They separated me from my family. It's so hard.” — Brayan Omar SánchezWest Palm Beach, FL · Oct 6, 2026 · El País, CBS News, News Dive +13- Lorenzo S.: Cuban man recovering from amputation deported by ICE to Mexico, left homelessLorenzo Sánchez, who fled Cuba in the 1980 Mariel boatlift and built decades of life in Florida, was deported to Mexico while recovering from a toe amputation and left homeless for months before reaching shelter in Guanajuato.“It was all a lie. A set-up. When I walked through the door, four agents were waiting for me. They handcuffed my hands, legs, and feet, and told me not to resist.” — VicenteMiami, FL · Sep 23, 2026 · Forbidden Stories, Fact in Face
Leonardo S.: Cuban man with pending hernia surgery deported to Equatorial Guinea, family saysLeonardo Sánchez, a 49-year-old Cuban national and lawful permanent resident who arrived in the U.S. in 2010 under the Cuban Adjustment Act and worked as a welder, was deported to Liberia and then Equatorial Guinea after ICE detained him at a gas station.“I urinated in my pants three times.” — Leonardo SánchezMiami, FL · Sep 19, 2026 · El País, CiberCuba, Cuba Headlines +5%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fi.s3.glbimg.com%2Fv1%2FAUTH_37554604729d4b2f9f3eb9ad8a691345%2Finternal_photos%2Fbs%2F2026%2Fb%2Fg%2FvZbPS2RkWhoTus1aL2KA%2Fbrasileiros-deportados.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Pietro G.L.: Gay Brazilian man deported to Equatorial Guinea despite winning torture protection rulingPietro Graza de Lima, who ran a small business in Orlando for seven years after fleeing violence in Brazil, won protection from deportation but was flown instead to Equatorial Guinea, where he lost contact with his lawyers.Orlando, FL · Sep 11, 2026 · valorinternational.globo.com, Miami Herald, Lookout News +4
Daniela F.: Cuban trans woman deported by ICE to Central African Republic, hides identityDaniela Fuentes, a 32-year-old transgender Cuban hairstylist and drag performer, was deported to the Central African Republic, a country she had never visited. She now shares a room with four other deportees and hides her gender identity out of fear.Miami, FL · Aug 31, 2026 · El País, Cuba Headlines, Es Libertad +9
Julio B.: Miami mechanic, 72, deported to Tapachula, Mexico, after 46 years hereJulio Borrell, 72, a Cuban mechanic in Florida since 1980 and father of seven, was deported to Tapachula, Mexico after 46 years here. He now patches tires on the street, saving to rent a room.“I'm in a place called Tapachula, Chiapas” — Julio BorrellMiami, FL · Aug 26, 2026 · Latin Times, Cuba Headlines, CiberCuba +1
Leonardo S.F.: Cuban legal resident deported by ICE to Equatorial Guinea, shoved and hospitalizedLeonardo Sánchez Fernández, 49, a Cuban lawful resident from Lehigh Acres, Florida, was deported to Equatorial Guinea despite valid residency until 2030. Shoved during a stopover, he is now hospitalized in Malabo without a passport or belongings.Lehigh Acres, FL · Aug 20, 2026 · CiberCuba, El País, El País
Jorge C.: Colombian father with court protection deported by ICE to DR CongoJorge Cubillos, 42, a truck driver who lived in Florida with his wife and four children since 2018, was deported in shackles to the Democratic Republic of Congo despite legal protection from removal.Orlando, FL · May 22, 2026 · Greyta Studio, Naira Voice, My News 13 +11- Angel L.L.: Salvadoran asylum seeker beaten by ICE, held in solitary, deported to MexicoAngel Lemus-Linares, 32, a Salvadoran asylum seeker, was beaten and held in solitary confinement for seven days without adequate medical care at a Texas detention center. He was later deported after his asylum claim was denied.Everglades, FL · May 18, 2026 · The Nation, The Independent, The Prospect +2
Roberto B.: Venezuelan journalist with torture protection shackled by ICE, bused to TapachulaRoberto Betancourt, a Venezuelan journalist whose wife and two children remain in Miami, was shuttled through 12 detention facilities over six months despite protection barring his return to Venezuela, then bused to Mexico in January 2026.“I had to go back to Tapachula and stay in the park, with nothing to eat, nowhere to sleep, the same story.” — Humberto GarcíaMiami, FL · Jan 28, 2026 · Forbidden Stories, Fact in Face, JLA Noticias
Josue R.P.: Cuban immigrant deported to Mexico, separated from wife and dying brotherJosue Rodriguez Perez, a Cuban immigrant and truck driver who rebuilt his life after losing residency years ago, was deported to Mexico in September, away from his wife and dying brother.Miami, FL · Nov 25, 2025 · County 17, WyoFile, Cuba Headlines +1
Georgia
Illinois
Chicago newlyweds separated by Midway Blitz raid, wife deported to MexicoA Chicago couple was arrested just eight days after marrying; the wife was deported to Mexico while a judge ordered her husband removed to El Salvador from detention in Michigan.Chicago, IL · Oct 2025 · WBEZ, Chicago Tribune
Wilker G.S.: Venezuelan man, 23, deported to CECOT prison in El Salvador before trialWilker Miguel Gutiérrez Sierra, 23, was arrested by ICE while awaiting trial on criminal charges in Chicago and deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison three days later, before his case was resolved.Chicago, IL · Mar 15, 2025 · ProPublica, Firstpost, U.S. News & World Report +1
Maikol L.L.: Venezuelan mechanic from Chicago deported to El Salvador prison without due processMaikol Gabriel López Lizano, a 23-year-old mechanic, was deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison over a misdemeanor charge for riding his bike while drinking a beer. His partner called the deportation unjust.Chicago, IL · Mar 15, 2025 · The New Yorker, ProPublica, Firstpost +2
Albert R.P.: Chicago man deported to El Salvador prison before asylum hearingAlbert Jesús Rodríguez Parra, who worked at Wrigley Field and sent money home to his mother, was denied bond over his tattoos and deported days before his asylum hearing.Chicago, IL · Mar 15, 2025 · Texas Tribune, ProPublica, El País +1- Yoderlyn A.P.: 21-year-old Venezuelan woman punched by ICE officer, deported to El SalvadorYoderlyn Daviana Acosta Peña, 21, a Venezuelan living and working in Chicago, was punched and grabbed by the hair by an ICE officer during her March 2025 deportation flight to El Salvador.Chicago, IL · Mar 15, 2025 · Bloomberg, The New Yorker, Yahoo News +3
Louisiana
Venezuelan men say they were shackled during deportation flight to LiberiaTwo Venezuelan men, 36 and 45, who had worked legally in the U.S. under protections, were shackled during a 15-hour deportation flight to Liberia, one missing his newborn son's birth.Alexandria, LA · Aug 19, 2026 · El Venezolano Newspaper, Centro Venezolanos
Honduran man with diabetes deported to Liberia after New Orleans arrestA 40-year-old Honduran man with diabetes was picked up outside New Orleans while getting his wife from work and deported to Liberia, his second deportation under the administration, now housed in a hotel with aid group support.New Orleans, LA · Aug 19, 2026 · El País
LGBTQ+ South American woman held 15 months by ICE, deported to CongoA 23-year-old South American woman, held 15 months in Louisiana after an immigration judge protected her from removal over her LGBTQ+ status, was deported to Congo before a judge could act on her release.Louisiana, LA · Apr 18, 2026 · Verite News, Third Country Deportation Watch
Maria: Colombian torture survivor with U.S. court protection deported to CongoMaria, 29, a Colombian torture survivor granted U.S. protection from deportation to Colombia, was instead shackled and flown nearly 24 hours to Congo, one of 15 Latin Americans sent there.Louisiana · Apr 17, 2026 · Associated Press, Third Country Deportation Watch, The Independent +1
Moroccan LGBTQ+ woman deported via Cameroon despite judge's order, now hidingA 21-year-old Moroccan woman, despite a judge's order barring her return to Morocco, was deported to Cameroon in January 2026 and then sent back to Morocco, where she now hides.Alexandria, LA · Feb 27, 2026 · El País, Impact Policies, ABC7 +1- Stateless Angolan man with asylum protections deported to Cameroon after 30 yearsA stateless Angolan man who lived in the U.S. for 30 years and held asylum protections was deported to Cameroon in January 2026 without notice, part of a secret transfer deal.Alexandria, LA · Jan 15, 2026 · El País, ABS Africa TV
- Farah: Gay Moroccan woman granted protection deported via Cameroon, now hiding in MoroccoFarah, 21, a gay Moroccan woman who fled her family after they allegedly tried to kill her, was deported to Cameroon in January 2026 and now hides in Morocco, fearing them still.Alexandria, LA · Jan 15, 2026 · El País, Hespress (English), India Today +2
- Zimbabwean nurse with asylum protections deported to Cameroon after 15 yearsA Zimbabwean nurse who lived in the U.S. for 15 years with asylum protections was deported to Cameroon in January 2026 and held in Yaoundé with poor food and no documents.Alexandria, LA · Jan 15, 2026 · El País
- Ghanaian student deported to Cameroon without notice despite legal protectionsA 20-year-old Ghanaian student with asylum protections was deported to Cameroon in handcuffs and shackles in January 2026, then held in Yaoundé without documents or due process.Alexandria, LA · Jan 15, 2026 · El País, ABS Africa TV
Ousmane: West African man says he was beaten on deportation flight to GhanaOusmane (a pseudonym), a West African man who lived in the U.S. over 20 years, was beaten and restrained for resisting a deportation flight to Ghana, where he had no ties. He remains in limbo nearly a year later.“They bundled me and my colleagues, tied us up in a straitjacket.” — the Nigerian manAlexandria, LA · Nov 6, 2025 · Forbidden Stories, Wired Jamaica
Trans-Latina advocate lured to ICE office, denied care and deported to MexicoA trans-Latina community organizer and 2024 human rights award recipient was lured to an ICE office with promises of leniency, detained, allegedly mistreated, then deported to Mexico, a country she had never lived in.New Orleans, LA · February 2025 · ACLU, WWNO, Institute for Policy Studies +1
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Missouri
Nebraska
New Mexico
New York
Alex R.G.: Gay Cuban asylum seeker ordered deported to EcuadorAlicbiades "Alex" Lazaro Ramirez Gonzalez, who fled Cuba with his husband and married in the U.S., was ordered deported to Ecuador after being detained during a routine ICE appointment. His husband faces the same order.Mattydale, NY · Jan 15, 2026 · CiberCuba, CourtListener
Merwil G.: Venezuelan teen deported to El Salvador prison by mistakeMerwil Gutiérrez, 19, had no criminal record or gang ties, but agents took him anyway and sent him to El Salvador's Cecot prison.“I feel like my son was kidnapped. I’ve spent countless hours searching for him, going from one precinct to another, speaking with numerous people who kept referring me elsewhere. Yet, after all this, no one has given me any information or provided a single document about his case.” — Wilmer GutiérrezBronx, NY · Apr 15, 2025 · The Guardian, Documented, Democracy Now +1
North Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Samuel N.: Texas pastor deported to Ghana, a country he has never visitedSamuel Nnamdi, a 45-year-old pastor and father of five who worked legally at UPS for five years, was deported to Ghana, a country he had never visited, separating him from his wife and children.Mesquite, TX · Oct 6, 2026 · MS Now, Europe News
Felipe F. and Daniel R.: Mexican deportees stranded in Guatemala after being flown far from homeFelipe Flores and Daniel Ramirez, a Texas resident raised in Brownsville, were deported together to Guatemala City, part of a policy sending over 2,200 Mexicans there this year. Both then made a long bus journey back toward the border.“How are we going to put the life preserver on if we have handcuffs on our hands and feet?” — another detaineeSan Antonio, TX · Sep 1, 2026 · San Antonio Express-News, syracuse.com- Daniel R.: Texas man raised in Brownsville deported to Guatemala, shackled 15 hoursDaniel Ramirez, 30, raised in Brownsville, was shackled for a 15-hour flight to Guatemala City under a deportation policy, then bused into Mexico over 1,000 miles from home. He later reached Matamoros and found work painting cars.“It’s like a punishment for us so we don’t go back again,” — Daniel RamirezBrownsville, TX · Sep 1, 2026 · San Antonio Express-News, KVIA
Belarusian activist deported to Costa Rica, asylum plea ignored by Border PatrolA 23-year-old Belarusian activist who fled political persecution was arrested at the border, had his phone with evidence confiscated, and was secretly flown to Costa Rica without being told his destination.South Texas · Apr 2026 · The Tico Times, CNN
José Antonio G.: Cuban man brought at age nine deported to Mexico after 38 yearsJosé Antonio González, 51, arrived at age nine and worked as a painter supporting his family, but was deported after nearly 40 years over childhood offenses. He says he feels more American than Cuban.El Paso, TX · Dec 1, 2025 · CiberCuba, CiberCuba
Carlos U.: Venezuelan miner flown to CECOT prison instead of home, held four monthsA miner and cook from Venezuela who asked to be sent home was flown to El Salvador's CECOT prison, where he says guards beat him. He was freed after four months.“Todo ha sido demasiado difícil. El hecho de no saber de él, de no hablar con él, de no verlo aunque sea por videollamadas, pues es una angustia completa todos los días” — Gabriela Mora, su esposaRaymondville, TX · Jul 23, 2025 · El Diario, Wall Street Journal, The Guardian
Pedro Luis S.C.: 28-year-old Venezuelan migrant deported to El Salvador prison over a photoPedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, 28, a Venezuelan migrant with no criminal record, was deported to a maximum security prison in El Salvador over a photo wrongly tied to gang activity.Maverick County, TX · Jun 18, 2025 · Texas Tribune, Reuters, U.S. News & World Report
Neri A.B.: Venezuelan asylum seeker deported to El Salvador prison over tattooNeri Jose Alvarado Borges, a bakery worker with an autism-awareness tattoo honoring his brother, was sent to El Salvador's CECOT despite holding asylum papers.“If someone fell to the floor, they (the guards) will kick you repeatedly on the ground before you could get up. About 20 to 30 times. For about anything they would beat you up.” — Neri AlvaradoLewisville, TX · Mar 15, 2025 · NBC News, NBC DFW, Spectrum Local News
Andry B.B.: Food delivery driver detained by ICE, beaten four months in Salvadoran prisonAndry Omar Blanco Bonilla, 40, a food delivery driver and father of seven, endured four months of beatings at El Salvador's CECOT prison after agents questioned him about tattoos he says represent his family.Dallas, TX · Mar 15, 2025 · CBS News, CourtListener, The Guardian
Guatemalan man deported by ICE against judge's order brought backA 33-year-old Guatemalan man was returned to the U.S. in June 2025 after being unlawfully deported to Mexico despite a judge's order barring his removal. A federal judge called the deportation "blatant lawlessness."El Paso, TX · Feb 22, 2025 · Reuters, CBS News, New York Post +2- Jeferson E.: Venezuelan former police officer deported to El Salvador prison despite court orderJeferson Escalona, 19, a former Venezuelan police officer, was deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison in late March 2025 despite a judge's order barring such removals, after denying gang ties alleged from hand-gesture photos.Anson, TX · Jan 2025 · Hindustan Times, ABC News
Utah
Wisconsin
Gay Venezuelan makeup artist deported to Salvadoran prison on fired officer's reportA gay Venezuelan makeup artist was deported to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center based on a report from a former Milwaukee officer previously flagged for credibility issues over alleged lying.Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Apr 10, 2025 · Daily Mail, USA Today, The Advocate +1
Ma Y.: Hmong mother of five deported to Laos, stranded without medicationMa Yang, 37, a Hmong American mother of five who has lived in the Milwaukee area since infancy, was deported to Laos and says she's held in a rooming house with no insulin for her diabetes.South Milwaukee, WI · Mar 6, 2025 · Journal Standard, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, CNN +1
Location not tied to one state
Brayan S.: Deported to Central African Republic despite court orderBrayan Omar Sánchez, 26, a Honduran truck driver and small business owner who fled gang violence, was deported to the Central African Republic on July 30 despite believing he had a court order against removal.Senegal · Oct 21, 2026 · El Mundo Honduras, Infobae, Radio HRN +15
Orville E.: Jamaican green card holder deported to Eswatini, isolated in maximum-security prisonOrville Etoria, 62, a Jamaican green card holder who earned a theology degree and worked at a shelter after completing his sentence, was deported to Eswatini instead of Jamaica and held in isolation at a maximum-security prison.“Before his shocking deportation, Mr. Etoria had been living in New York, following the law and reporting regularly to ICE under an order of supervision. When ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] asked him to obtain a Jamaican passport earlier this year, he complied. But instead of removing him to Jamaica, as his documentation clearly allowed and as common sense would dictate, the U.S. government inexplicably and illegally sent him to Eswatini,” — his attorney, Mia UngerMatsapha, Eswatini · Oct 8, 2026 · El País, Third Country Deportation Watch, American Immigration Council +4
Thongxay N.: Laotian restaurant cook deported to South Sudan despite court orderThongxay Nilakout, who came to the U.S. from Laos as a child, was deported to South Sudan despite a court order barring it. After over a year detained there, he finally reached Laos on October 8, 2026.CA · Oct 8, 2026 · Info News, The Guardian, Gregtech +3
Tesfay T.: Ethiopian torture survivor shackled and deported to Cameroon by ICETesfay, a 35-year-old Ethiopian torture survivor granted protection from deportation, was pressured into signing removal papers and flown to Cameroon chained at the wrists, legs and stomach for the entire flight.Oct 8, 2026 · Human Rights Watch
Phone C.: Laotian man deported to Eswatini, held 14 months in maximum-security prisonPhone Chomsavanh, who came to the U.S. from a Thai refugee camp at age 7, was freed after 14 months in an Eswatini prison following his deportation there under a third-country program, despite having no ties to the country.“He had already served his time. Instead they put him on a plane without telling him where it was headed and left him in a prison in a country he had never heard of, where nobody ever accused him of anything.” — Tin Thanh Nguyen, Chomsavanh's U.S.-based lawyerMatsapha, Eswatini · Oct 4, 2026 · Associated Press, WDBO, ABC News +6- Adam: Refugee granted protection by judge deported to Equatorial Guinea and beatenA 26-year-old refugee called Adam, who fled forced military conscription and had won protection from deportation, was secretly sent to Equatorial Guinea, where he has been confined under guard and beaten for nearly a year.Oct 2, 2026 · The Guardian, Reuters
Adwoa: Bisexual Ghanaian woman deported to Cameroon, held for months in detentionAdwoa, 21, a bisexual Ghanaian woman who fled violence over her sexuality, was deported to Cameroon despite a court guarantee against sending her to Ghana. She has been held there for months.“I’m so scared. I want to go outside, because I’m human. But I cannot go outside here.” — AylinSep 26, 2026 · CNN, The Financial
Bryan S.: Honduran gardener from Colorado deported to Central African Republic without noticeBryan Omar Sánchez, a Honduran gardener who lived in Colorado for a decade, was deported to the Central African Republic despite a protection order. A judge ordered him returned and released.“Africa? No, I can’t go to Africa,” — Bryan Omar SánchezCO · Sep 25, 2026 · El País, ABC News, Cuba Headlines +4
Nika: Iranian woman deported to Central African Republic despite winning US protection orderNika, a 32-year-old Iranian woman who had won protection from being sent back to Iran, was instead deported to the Central African Republic, where she has since gotten malaria and faces police harassment.CA · Sep 21, 2026 · Associated Press, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, NBC News +5
Isatou: Guinean woman fleeing forced marriage deported to Ghana, then GuineaIsatou (a pseudonym), who fled a forced marriage in Guinea, was deported to Ghana and then back to Guinea, where she now hides in fear of encountering her family.“I said, ‘Ghana? I’m not from Ghana; what am I going to do there? I only saw Ghana on the map; I don’t know where that is,'” — Rabbiatu KuyatehSep 21, 2026 · France 24, Forbidden Stories
Senegalese woman attempts suicide after being held at remote Ghana deportation campA Senegalese woman deported to a remote Ghana military camp with little electricity or contact attempted suicide by drinking bleach, fearing return to Senegal, and was later deported there anyway.Ghana · Sep 21, 2026 · The Guardian, Forbidden Stories
Gisèle: Congolese woman with untreated thyroid condition self-deports from Cameroon shelterGisèle, who fled fighting in Congo, could not get medication for her thyroid condition at a Cameroon shelter for five months and chose to return to Congo instead of seeking asylum.Sep 21, 2026 · France 24, Forbidden Stories
Roberto M.P.: Father of four deported to Eswatini, imprisoned over a year without chargesRoberto Mosquera del Peral, 59, a Cuban plumber and father of four who came to the U.S. in the 1980 Mariel boatlift, was deported without consent to Eswatini and has been jailed over a year without charges.Eswatini · Sep 19, 2026 · PBS, CiberCuba, Cuba Headlines +2- Carlos R.: Cuban man says ICE beat him while handcuffed, deported to Equatorial GuineaCarlos Rodríguez, a Cuban migrant, says he was beaten and carried off a plane after refusing to leave it, despite being told he and four others would be returned to the U.S.; instead they were sent to Equatorial Guinea.“My husband is a person who committed crimes in the past, for which he did pay. No one deserves to live and go through this. He is a human being; he is not a car or a sack of potatoes,” — his wife, Igrayne Ribot HernándezSep 19, 2026 · El País, CiberCuba, Just Security +2
Paola F.S.: 21-year-old Brazilian woman deported to Liberia after 15 months in ICE detentionA 21-year-old Brazilian woman who cleaned construction sites in Massachusetts spent 15 months moved through five detention facilities before being flown, restrained, to Liberia without being told her destination.“I told him: if you don't tell me where you're sending me, I won't get off the bus. And he said: if you don't get off by your own will, we'll have to use force,” — Paola SantosMA · Sep 15, 2026 · Liv Dose, CBS News, Streamline Feed +1
Three Nicaraguans with no ties deported to Central African Republic by ICEThree Nicaraguan men with no ties to the Central African Republic were deported there in handcuffs and left stranded in Bangui, despite protections barring their return to Nicaragua.Sep 14, 2026 · Divergentes, Infobae, Luxe Chronicle
Samson B.: Eritrean refugee deported to Equatorial Guinea beaten, held without lawyer accessSamson Birhane, a refugee who came to the U.S. at 13, was deported to Equatorial Guinea and beaten alongside fellow deportee Ahmed Soliman after documenting abuse at a detention site. Both remain jailed without lawyer access.Malabo, Equatorial Guinea · Sep 11, 2026 · The Guardian, Business Insider Africa, Amnesty International +2
Kenis L.: Nicaraguan man deported to Central African Republic says ICE agents shot himKenis Alberto López, 44, a Nicaraguan man held eight months, says agents shot him with projectiles and restrained him for about 24 hours before deporting him to the Central African Republic in August.“Tengo miedo, sí, tengo miedo a perder mi vida aquí en África” — Kenis Alberto LópezSep 10, 2026 · 100 Noticias, InfoMedioni, Nueva Ya
Natalie H.: Jamaican pastor deported while court case pending, held indefinitely in Equatorial GuineaNatalie Holmes, 51, a Jamaican pastor, says she was deported to Equatorial Guinea in June while her case was still pending. She remains among 29 people held at a decommissioned hotel, reporting assaults by armed guards.Sep 8, 2026 · Tucson.com, Amandla News, Just Security +1- Peta-Gaye C.: Jamaican woman deported to Equatorial Guinea despite 2013 protection orderPeta-Gaye Chambers, 35, who came from Jamaica as a child, had been protected from deportation since 2013 over fears of persecution. She was deported to Equatorial Guinea anyway in June and says she was dragged from her room at gunpoint.Malabo, Equatorial Guinea · Sep 8, 2026 · Tucson.com, Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, Click2Houston
- Paola S.: Brazilian woman deported to Liberia after 15 months in U.S. detentionPaola dos Santos, a Brazilian woman, was deported to Liberia in August after being detained in the U.S. for 15 months.Sep 8, 2026 · valorinternational.globo.com, New York Times, Streamline Feed
Deportees allege officers used force after refusing to leave flight to LiberiaTen deportees said officers used force on them after they refused to leave a flight to Liberia, a country several said they had no ties to.Sep 6, 2026 · Latin Times, Standing Record, Reuters +2
Iranian activist protected from return to Iran deported to Central African RepublicAn Iranian pro-democracy activist in her thirties was deported to the Central African Republic despite a judge's order protecting her from removal to Iran, and now lives in isolation, fearing extortion and police harassment.LA · Sep 1, 2026 · The Independent, News Central TV, NBC News +11
Khalil: Afghan man granted protection from Taliban deported to Central African RepublicKhalil, a 24-year-old Afghan man granted protection from deportation due to Taliban threats against his family, was deported to the Central African Republic anyway. His brother, trained as a pilot by the U.S. military, was killed by the Taliban.Aug 30, 2026 · CBS News, NPR, Times Now World +3
Jay D.: Bahamas-born boxer deported to Haiti, where he has never livedJay Dabelus, a professional boxer who left the Bahamas as a child and lived in the U.S. for decades, was deported to Haiti, a country he says he has no ties to.Aug 27, 2026 · Git Fic Online, Daily of World, Africanews
Carlos T.S.: Venezuelan father deported by ICE to Liberia despite court order protecting himCarlos Téllez-Sanchez, a Venezuelan father who worked at a car dealership and for Uber Eats, was deported to Liberia despite a court order protecting him, missing his newborn son's birth after nearly eight months in detention.TX · Aug 21, 2026 · PACER Monitor, Últimas Noticias, US Inquirer +9
Carlos R.L.: Cuban father deported to Equatorial Guinea without passportCarlos Rodríguez López, a Cuban father with a nine-year-old daughter and a U.S. citizen wife in Miami Gardens, was deported on a diverted flight and held in Malabo without a passport or legal help.LA · Aug 20, 2026 · Telemundo, CiberCuba, Cuba Headlines +2
Six people deported by ICE held without medical care in Equatorial GuineaSix deportees — four Cubans, a Brazilian and a Cameroonian — refused a third-country flight to Liberia and were instead flown to Equatorial Guinea, where they're held under armed guard without hygiene items or medical care.Malabo, Equatorial Guinea · Aug 20, 2026 · The Guardian, Cuba Headlines, Reuters +3- Arín G.Y.: Colombian construction worker with stay of removal deported by ICE to LiberiaArín García Yepes, a Colombian construction worker from Dallas who had lived in the U.S. 15 months, was flown to Liberia despite a stay of removal and remains stranded in a Monrovia hotel without documents.Aug 20, 2026 · El País, The Connect Online, El Centavo +2
- William O.H.: Honduran man protected by judge's order deported by ICE to LiberiaWilliam Ortiz Hernández, a Honduran man granted protection from removal over torture fears, was deported to Liberia and now lives in a Monrovia hotel without a passport, treating his diabetes there.“An animal has more rights than we do; this is called human trafficking, they have us kidnapped in this country, we have no papers, we are at the mercy of whatever may happen,” — Arístides Fernández GarcíaAug 20, 2026 · El País
- Elvis R.V.: Honduran father of four deported by ICE to Liberia, far from familyElvis Rodriguez Venturas, a Honduran construction worker whose deportation to Honduras had been barred by a judge, was flown to Liberia with no advance notice, leaving his wife and four children in Texas.“I was the first to get off the plane, and they said, 'Welcome to Liberia. You're in Africa,'” — Paola Ferreira Dos SantosTX · Aug 20, 2026 · CBS News, Socast, CRBC News +3
Five migrants resist Liberia deportation, forced off plane in Equatorial GuineaFive people, including three Cuban men, a Brazilian man and a Cameroonian woman, refused to leave a Liberia-bound deportation flight and were forced off in Equatorial Guinea, joining over 30 others held there.Aug 20, 2026 · The Straits Times, Reuters, The Print +1
Leonardo S.: Green card holder with untreated hernia deported to Equatorial Guinea in restraintsLeonardo Sánchez, a lawful U.S. resident with a large abdominal hernia, arrived in Malabo still restrained, falling face-first onto the tarmac after awaiting a tenth surgery.Aug 20, 2026 · Latin Times, Cuba Headlines, El País +2
Twenty people deported to Liberia under new third-country dealTwenty deportees arrived in Liberia under a new deal that could send up to 1,200 people there, as the U.S. pledged $124 million in assistance and extended visas for Liberians.Aug 20, 2026 · The Guardian, Associated Press, Political +2- Venezuelan man chained on deportation flight to Liberia, separated from familyA 45-year-old Venezuelan wind-energy worker was detained at a routine check-in, shackled hand and foot for a 15-hour flight to Liberia, and separated from his wife and children, who remain in the U.S.Aug 19, 2026 · El País, Distant News
- Venezuelan father with protected status held eight months, deported to LiberiaA 36-year-old Venezuelan man who fled political persecution was detained for eight months, deported to Liberia in shackles, and missed his son's birth while in custody.Aug 19, 2026 · El País, World Press A, Eastern Herald +2
Emilio: Deaf Venezuelan man deported to Mexico without interpreter after ICE asylum check-inEmilio, a Deaf Venezuelan man who lived in Texas nearly four years and worked at Amazon, was detained for nine weeks without an interpreter and deported to Mexico, a country he'd never lived in.TX · Aug 19, 2026 · Mother Jones, Today's Democrats, American Briefs
Indoniel B.: 15-year-old Cuban boy deported to Guyana, left alone after father diesIndoniel Lázaro Barrio, 15, was deported to Guyana with his father, who then died suddenly, leaving the boy alone. His mother in Miami is seeking help to bring him back to Florida, where he lived four years.Guyana · Aug 11, 2026 · CiberCuba, Cuba Headlines, CiberCuba
Ghanaian LGBTQ+ women deported to Cameroon, held two months in compoundSoraya, a Ghanaian woman granted protection from deportation, was instead sent to Cameroon with two other Ghanaian LGBTQ+ women, shackled, held two months, and freed only after a hunger strike.“You couldn't move, and it felt like we had committed some kind of crime, like terrorism. I felt like a terrorist because what on earth did I do to be shackled like that to the point that I couldn't move. I just came to the US for safety. I didn't expect that at all.”Aug 5, 2026 · Ghana Tomorrow, France 24
Father who testified against cartels deported by ICE despite protection from tortureA Mexican man in his late 40s, a Maryland father who testified against drug cartel members, was deported despite torture protections. A judge ordered his return within 14 days.MD · Aug 1, 2026 · Seattle Times, The New Republic, Newsweek +7
Mexican man deported three times despite court order barring removal to MexicoA Mexican man living in Maryland who testified against drug cartels was deported three times in two weeks after losing protection from removal, and now hides in Mexico fearing retaliation.MD · Aug 1, 2026 · Talking Points Memo, Newsweek
Zena G.: Eritrean father with torture protection deported to Central African RepublicZena Gebrgzabher, a 39-year-old Eritrean truck driver from Maryland, was deported to the Central African Republic despite protection against being sent to Eritrea. He is stranded without documents, separated from his wife and 5-year-old son.“We cannot leave, we don't have documents and we're suffering and missing our families, in a continent we don't know,” — Yasmany Moreno de ArmasMD · Jul 31, 2026 · US Inquirer, CBS News, News Dive +1
Shackled Nigerian man put in full-body restraint during ICE deportation to GhanaA Nigerian man was restrained in a full-body WRAP device during a September deportation flight to Ghana, despite being shackled and asking to speak with attorneys.Jul 25, 2026 · Associated Press, The Indiana Lawyer, Wired Jamaica +2- Aylin: Gay Turkish asylum seeker deported to Central African Republic despite protection orderAylin, a 28-year-old gay Turkish woman protected from deportation to Turkey, says she was shackled and flown to the Central African Republic instead, a country she had never heard of, before returning to Turkey in fear.Jul 1, 2026 · CNN, K.D. Sherpa, JRL Charts +1
- Latin American asylum seekers deported to DR Congo report solitary confinementMarta and 14 other asylum seekers from Colombia, Peru and Ecuador were deported to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where she reports solitary confinement, power cuts and frequent illness. One deportee had already been granted protection from torture.Jun 29, 2026 · Greyta Studio, Meilleures Cotes
18 Venezuelan men deported to El Salvador prison allege torture, beatingsEighteen Venezuelan men deported to El Salvador's Cecot prison in March 2025 filed a human rights petition alleging beatings, sexual assault and medical neglect before their July release.Jun 23, 2026 · The Guardian, Miami Herald, Vanguardia- Dozen asylum seekers deported to Sierra Leone face return to persecutionAbout a dozen asylum seekers were deported to Sierra Leone in June 2026 despite earlier court orders protecting them from being sent back to countries where they feared persecution.Freetown, Sierra Leone · Jun 21, 2026 · Associated Press, Northwest Arkansas Online, Sierra Eye Magazine +5
Tuan P.: Vietnamese man held over a year in South Sudan returned to VietnamTuan Phan, 44, who came to the U.S. as a child, was deported to South Sudan in July 2025 and held over a year in a guarded compound before being repatriated to Vietnam in June 2026.Juba, SS · Jun 19, 2026 · Associated Press, The Star, CityNews Halifax +4
Yadi: Cuban mother deported to Mexico, separated from three children in HoustonYadi, a Cuban mother, was deported and said a tearful goodbye to her three children at the Cancún airport after a two-month visit, as they returned to Houston without her.“Nobody is prepared for this moment... After two months, I say goodbye to my children. No family should have to experience a separation like this.” — YadiCancún, Mexico · Jun 5, 2026 · Cuba Headlines, CiberCuba
32 asylum seekers with U.S. protection held in Equatorial Guinea, 25 deportedThirty-two asylum seekers already granted U.S. protection were detained in an Equatorial Guinea hotel under a government deal, with 25 forcibly sent back to countries where they face persecution.Malabo, GQ · May 28, 2026 · Associated Press, ABC News, CRBC News +2Harold A.: 58-year-old Cuban man deported by ICE to Mexico without money or documentsHarold A., a 58-year-old Cuban man, was detained at a routine ICE check-in and deported to Mexico without money or documents, among over 4,300 Cubans deported without ever seeing a judge.May 27, 2026 · Associated Press, Human Rights Watch, ABC News +2
Thousands of Cubans deported to Mexico face homelessness, violence, and legal limboOver 4,300 Cuban nationals were deported to Mexico since January 2025, many pushed into dangerous border areas where they now face homelessness, violence, and no legal status.Villahermosa, Mexico; Tapachula, Mexico · May 27, 2026 · Associated Press, Miami Herald, Human Rights Watch +6
Andry H.R.: Gay asylum seeker deported to El Salvador prison, held over four monthsAndry Hernández Romero, a gay Venezuelan makeup artist seeking asylum, was deported to a maximum security prison in El Salvador over disputed tattoos. Released in a prisoner swap, he now seeks asylum in Spain.Tecoluca, El Salvador · May 22, 2026 · The Advocate, Acast, Q Notes +9- Barbara: Ethiopian woman granted protection by a judge deported to CameroonBarbara, a young Ethiopian woman who fled Tigray's civil war, had a deportation protection order but was deported to Cameroon anyway in April 2026. She remains at a shelter in Yaoundé, alone and unable to speak French.LA · Apr 28, 2026 · France 24, HCN Times
Carlos R.: Diabetic Colombian man shackled without food, deported to Congo by ICECarlos Rodelo, 43, fled extortion in Colombia and won protection barring his return there, but ICE shackled him and flew him to Congo anyway. He later returned home to Colombia through a voluntary return program.Apr 21, 2026 · Greyta Studio, Latin Times, El País +7
- Four men deported to Eswatini denied lawyer visits for 9 monthsFour men from Cuba, Yemen, Laos and Vietnam, deported to Eswatini with no ties there, were denied lawyers for nine months. Eswatini's Supreme Court ruled in April 2026 they have the right to meet counsel.Eswatini · Apr 10, 2026 · Twin Cities, Clear Press, Time News +3
Roberto M.: Cuban and Yemeni men deported to Eswatini, imprisoned nine months without chargesA Cuban man and a Yemeni man, among five deported to Eswatini, have been imprisoned there without charges since July 2025, though a court recently granted them access to a lawyer.Apr 10, 2026 · The Guardian, El País, Third Country Deportation Watch +11
Eight African migrants deported to Uganda, where none are citizensEight African migrants denied asylum in the U.S. were deported to Uganda on April 3, 2026, the first transfer under a new agreement. Ugandan legal groups called the process illegal and plan to challenge it in court.Apr 5, 2026 · BBC, BBC, The Star +2
Elderly Cuban deportees abandoned in Mexico without support, thousands strandedAbout 6,000 Cuban nationals, many elderly after decades in the U.S., have been deported to Mexican cities like Tapachula and Villahermosa with no notice or support, left facing poverty and homelessness.Tapachula, Mexico · Apr 4, 2026 · Los Angeles Times, Quixote Center, El País +3
Melona: Eritrean asylum seeker deported to Panama instead of granted refugeMelona, an Eritrean asylum seeker, was deported to Panama, a country where she has no ties or language, and held in a hotel with hundreds of other migrants without explanation.Apr 1, 2026 · Quixote Center, The Christian Science Monitor
Pheap R.: Cambodian refugee deported to Eswatini, held five months without chargesPheap Rom, a Cambodian national and U.S. resident since 1985, was deported to Eswatini in 2024, held five months without charges, then repatriated to Cambodia in March 2026 under a $5.1 million U.S. deal.Mar 28, 2026 · Associated Press, ABC News, Free Malaysia Today +4
Alberto R.: 73-year-old Cuban man with stroke deported to Mexico, sleeps in parksAlberto Rodríguez, 73, who lived in the U.S. nearly 50 years, was deported to Mexico and now sleeps in parks, using a cane after a stroke, with no work or medical care.Villahermosa, MX · Mar 26, 2026 · Seattle Times, english-elpais-com.cdn.ampproject.org, AOL +1
Luis M.P.: Venezuelan student deported to Salvadoran prison over tattoosLuis Muñoz Pinto, a 27-year-old Venezuelan who had been studying robotics engineering, was detained during a scheduled Customs and Border Protection appointment under the CBP One program and deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison in March 2025.Mar 3, 2026 · The Guardian, Prime Publishers, Miami New Times +4
Ricardo P.O.: Cuban man, 67, deported to Mexico dies after repeated hospitalizationsRicardo del Pino Olivera, a 67-year-old Cuban man, was deported to Mexico in July 2025 after serving a prison sentence and struggled to get care or documents. He died of cancer in February 2026, his nationality listed as unknown.Villahermosa, MX · Feb 21, 2026 · english-elpais-com.cdn.ampproject.org, Human Rights Watch- Eight migrants deported to Cameroon and held without access to lawyersEight migrants from countries including Kenya, Senegal, and Ethiopia were deported to Cameroon in February 2026 without legal counsel. They were held in Yaoundé with inadequate food and pressured to return to their home countries.Yaoundé, CM · Feb 16, 2026 · El País
- Three deported migrants die when boat capsizes off PanamaA boat carrying 16 migrants deported from the U.S. and rerouted to Tapachula capsized off Panama, killing two Venezuelan women and one Colombian man; one survivor was pulled from under the hull.Guna Yala, Panama · Feb 10, 2026 · Forbidden Stories, De Último Minuto
- Yadira C.: Mother of slain Nicaraguan teen protester deported to Mexico after ICE detentionYadira Córdoba, whose teenage son was killed during Nicaragua's 2018 protests, fled in 2023 but was detained at an immigration appointment and held for months. She was deported to Mexico in February after Honduras twice refused her.Feb 5, 2026 · Divergentes, Havana Times, La Lupa +2
Farah: Gay woman deported to Cameroon by ICE despite judge's protection orderFarah, a 21-year-old gay woman from Morocco, was deported to Cameroon despite a judge's order barring it, then fled on to Morocco, where she is now in hiding.Feb 2026 · The Independent, Zambian Observer, Berawang News +3
Luis René L.: 59-year-old Cuban with Parkinson's deported to Mexico, unable to obtain medicationLuis René Lemus, 59, a Cuban man with Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia, was deported to Mexico and has struggled to get his medication among other elderly, ailing Cubans sent to Villahermosa.Villahermosa, MX · Feb 2026 · english-elpais-com.cdn.ampproject.org, Yahoo News
Roberto: Cuban man deported to Mexico without ID, separated from U.S. citizen fiancéeRoberto, a Cuban barber, was deported to Mexico in February 2026 after an immigration appointment, held three weeks without money or ID. His U.S. citizen fiancée later brought documents so they could marry.Cancún, MX · Feb 2026 · english-elpais-com.cdn.ampproject.org, Click Orlando, SF Gate
Juan B.: Nicaraguan former political prisoner stripped of nationality deported to Honduras by ICEJuan Barilla, 35, a Nicaraguan farmer and former political prisoner resettled in Louisiana, was taken into ICE custody after a DUI arrest. He was deported to Honduras in November 2025 and now fears retaliation from Nicaragua's government.“Un día menos pensado, cuando estaba en la celda, los del centro de detención llegaron y me llamaron por mi nombre y me dijeron: alístate que te van a remover. Me sacaron, llevaron al aeropuerto Alejandría en Luisiana. Iba encadenado de pies, mano y cintura, como un criminal (...) Eso fue una tortura, un calvario” — Juan BarillaDec 1, 2025 · Human Rights Watch, El Heraldo, 100 Noticias +1- Cambodian genocide refugee here 40 years deported to EswatiniP.R., 42, came to the U.S. as a Cambodian refugee at age three and lived there 40 years. He was held nine extra months before being deported to Eswatini on October 6, 2025.Oct 6, 2025 · Africanews, Axios, CourtListener
- Vietnamese refugee deported to Eswatini after living in U.S. since age eightK.V.V., 49, arrived as a Vietnamese refugee at age eight in 1984 and spent 18 years on supervised release before ICE deported him to Eswatini on October 6, 2025.Oct 6, 2025 · PBS, Axios, CourtListener
Jean: Haitian man deported to Mexico, stranded in Cancún unable to workJean, a 33-year-old Haitian man, was deported to Mexico and left in Cancún without assistance, unable to work, bank, or leave the state while his asylum application awaits confirmation.Cancún, MX · Oct 2025 · El País, english-elpais-com.cdn.ampproject.org
West Africans deported to Ghana left on Togo streets without documentsSix to ten West Africans, including Nigerian, Liberian, Gambian and Togolese nationals, were deported from the U.S. to Ghana in shackles, then transferred without papers across the border into Togo and left on the street.Lome, Togo · Sep 29, 2025 · eNCA, BBC, Washington Post +2
West Africans deported to Ghana forcibly returned home despite US protection ordersMore than 30 people deported to Ghana, many with U.S. court orders against removal, were forcibly sent to their home countries. Rabbiatu Kuyateh was filmed dragged onto a van and returned to Sierra Leone despite torture fears.Accra, Ghana · Sep 15, 2025 · Reuters, CNN, PBS +3
Jesus M.G.: Mexican man deported to South Sudan against court order returned to MexicoJesus Munoz-Gutierrez, a Mexican migrant previously ordered deported to Mexico, was instead flown to South Sudan in July 2025 before being returned to Mexico after a legal battle.Sep 6, 2025 · Al Jazeera, Africa, U.S. News & World Report +4
Eight migrants held in shipping container for weeks, deported to South SudanEight migrants from six countries were held in a shipping container in Djibouti for six weeks before being deported to South Sudan on July 5, 2025. Six remain unaccounted for, possibly held at a security headquarters.Sep 5, 2025 · El País, PBS, Associated Press +5- 14 migrants deported to Ghana on military plane, four put in straitjacketsFourteen people, including four forced into straitjackets for refusing to board without lawyers, were deported to Ghana on military aircraft and held at a military camp with little food or water.Sep 4, 2025 · El País, PBS, Associated Press
- Gambian LGBTQ+ man with humanitarian parole deported to Ghana on military aircraftK.S., a Gambian LGBTQ+ asylum holder with humanitarian parole, was chained and flown to Ghana on military aircraft despite telling officials he feared persecution at home. He is now in hiding.Sep 4, 2025 · El País, PBS, Associated Press
Nigerian activist married to U.S. citizen beaten by ICE, deported to GhanaA Nigerian activist married to a U.S. citizen was beaten by agents after resisting a flight to Ghana, then sent on to Togo without travel documents, surviving on money from his family.Sep 2025 · Third Country Deportation Watch, BBC, The Guardian +2
Seven deportees sent to Rwanda, identities and charges concealed by administrationSeven people deported to Rwanda in early August 2025 remain unidentified, with their lawyers saying they are held in isolation, unaware of the charges against them, and fear torture.Aug 28, 2025 · El País, Third Country Deportation Watch, American Immigration Council +3
Farzana: Afghan asylum seeker deported by ICE to Central African Republic, has malariaFarzana, a 32-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, was deported to the Central African Republic after years in detention. She now lives alone in Bangui, diagnosed with malaria.“They kept us like animal[s].” — FarzanaLA · Aug 28, 2025 · International Business Times, CRBC News, ABC Miami News
Deported Venezuelans describe beatings in El Salvador's CECOT prisonSixteen former detainees of El Salvador's CECOT prison described beatings, isolation, and sexual assault inside the facility where the U.S. has deported migrants.Jul 31, 2025 · Washington Post, The Straits Times, ABC News- Leonardo C.S.: Venezuelan soccer coach detained by CBP, tortured in El Salvador prisonLeonardo José Colmenares Solórzano, a 31-year-old former youth soccer coach with no criminal history, was deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison in March 2025, where he says guards tortured him. He returned to Venezuela in July in a prisoner swap.Jul 18, 2025 · ProPublica, Firstpost, U.S. News & World Report +4
Venezuelan men expelled to Salvadoran prison despite court order allege tortureMore than 230 Venezuelan men were flown to El Salvador's CECOT prison and allege months of torture there. They are now suing the aviation companies that carried out the flights.Jul 17, 2025 · The Guardian, Latin Times, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights +2- Five migrants deported to Eswatini, held in maximum-security prison without chargeFive migrants from Jamaica, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam and Yemen were deported to Eswatini and held without charge in a maximum-security prison. One, Cuban national Roberto Mosquera, remains there though he has no family, friends, or crimes in the country.Jul 15, 2025 · El País, PBS, Associated Press
Southeast Asian migrants deported to Eswatini held in isolation without explanationTwo Southeast Asian men deported to Eswatini in July 2025 are held in isolation in a maximum-security prison without lawyers or explanation, despite wanting to return to Vietnam and Laos.Jul 1, 2025 · El País, Third Country Deportation Watch, American Immigration Council +3- Jose Manuel R.Q.: Cuban man held in shipping container, deported by ICE to South SudanJose Manuel Rodriguez-Quinones, a Cuban man arrested in April, was held in a shipping container after his deportation flight was diverted to Djibouti. He arrived in South Sudan on July 4.FL · May 23, 2025 · Associated Press, Info News, Amnesty International +2
- Tuan P.: Vietnamese man deported to South Sudan, held there nearly a yearTuan Thanh Phan was deported to South Sudan in May 2025 under a flight a federal judge later ruled unlawful. After nearly a year in South Sudanese custody, he was repatriated to Vietnam on June 19, 2026.May 23, 2025 · Info News, Associated Press, Winnipeg Free Press +2
- Enrique A.H.: 46-year-old Cuban man held weeks in Djibouti, deported to South SudanEnrique Arias-Hierro, 46, a Cuban man ordered removed in 1999, was held for weeks in Djibouti after his deportation flight was diverted. He arrived in South Sudan on July 4.FL · May 23, 2025 · Associated Press, CiberCuba, Cuba Headlines +1
- Kyaw M.: Iowa man from Myanmar deported to South Sudan despite court orderKyaw Mya, who lived in Iowa, was arrested in February 2025 and placed on a deportation flight to South Sudan. A federal judge later found the flight violated a court order requiring a chance to object to removal.IA · May 23, 2025 · Associated Press, Info News, IndeOnline +3
200 migrants including 80 children deported to Costa Rica and detainedTwo hundred migrants, including 80 children from Afghanistan, Russia, Armenia, Iran and China, were deported on two flights and detained at Costa Rica's CATEM center in February 2025, many separated from family.Apr 17, 2025 · Associated Press, American Friends Service Committee, NBC News +2- Omar A.: Iraqi citizen deported to Rwanda in April, identity and fate unknownOmar Abdulsattar Ameen, an Iraqi citizen, was deported to Rwanda in April 2025, the first of several such deportations under a deal allowing up to 250 migrants to be sent there. His current situation remains unknown.Apr 1, 2025 · El País, PBS, Associated Press
Father sent to Salvadoran prison, mother deported, daughter in U.S. foster careMaiker Alejandro Espinoza Escalona was held at Guantánamo Bay before being sent to a prison in El Salvador, while his partner was deported to Venezuela without their daughter. Their daughter remains in U.S. foster care after three placements.Mar 28, 2025 · Them, CourtListener, Tal Cual Digital +2
Jerce R.B.: Venezuelan soccer player deported to El Salvador over tattooJerce Reyes Barrios, a 36-year-old Venezuelan soccer player and father of two, was deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison. His attorney says the only evidence against him was a soccer-ball tattoo and old Facebook photos.Mar 27, 2025 · NPR, Times of India, Newsweek +2
Francisco José G.C.: Venezuelan barber deported to El Salvador's mega-prisonFrancisco García, a barber who fled Venezuela's crisis and crossed into the US in 2023, was deported under a wartime law to El Salvador's CECOT despite his mother's insistence he is not a gang member.Mar 15, 2025 · BBC, The Guardian, lulac.org- Scarleth R.: 21-year-old Venezuelan with TPS deported to El Salvador against court orderScarleth Rodríguez, 21, was held nine months before being deported despite a court order halting removals, then flown back from El Salvador and beaten in a Texas detention center. Her mother had prepared a meal expecting her home.Mar 15, 2025 · El País, USA Today, ABC News +1
José Manuel R.B.: Venezuelan father sent to El Salvador prison over tattoosJosé Manuel Ramos Bastidas, who crossed legally to pay for his baby's asthma care, was deported not to Venezuela as promised but to El Salvador's CECOT prison over his tattoos.TX · Mar 15, 2025 · Texas Tribune, ProPublica, El País +2- Mervin Y.: Tortilla factory worker deported to El Salvador's mega-prisonMervin Yamarte, who worked 12-hour shifts at a tortilla factory and played football on weekends, was deported under a wartime law to El Salvador's CECOT despite his mother's belief in his innocence.“I threw myself on the floor, saying that God couldn't do this to my son,” — Mervin Yamarte's motherMar 15, 2025 · BBC, The Guardian, lulac.org
Wuilliam L.S.: Deported Venezuelan subjected to stress positions and solitary torture in El SalvadorWuilliam Lozada Sanchez was deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison, where he said he endured hours in stress positions and beatings in a dark punishment cell. He was freed in July as part of a prisoner swap.“There was blood everywhere, screams, people crying, people who couldn't take it and were urinating and vomiting on themselves.” — Luis Muñoz PintoMar 15, 2025 · CBS News
Juan José R.R.: Former technician detained at ICE appointment, subjected to abuse in Salvadoran prisonJuan José Ramos Ramos, a 39-year-old former telephone technician from Venezuela, was deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison in March 2025 after an ICE appointment, where he endured beatings and abuse before his July release.Mar 15, 2025 · CBS News, PBS, American Immigration Council
Franco C.T.: Asylum seeker detained at ICE check-in, deported to Salvadoran prison without noticeFranco Jose Caraballo Tiapa, a 26-year-old Venezuelan barber seeking asylum, was detained at a routine ICE check-in and deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison without notifying his family or lawyers.Feb 3, 2025 · CBS News, Woke Dissident, Yaracuy al Día
Turkish mother and two children seeking asylum expelled to PanamaA Turkish mother and her two children, fleeing persecution of her husband, were held nine days then flown to Panama, where officials threatened a jungle camp unless they returned to Turkey, where they now hide.Feb 2025 · Human Rights Watch, NBC News, CourtListener