Trump-era deportations send Afghan family member and others to Central African Republic
A flight organized by the Trump administration expelled dozens of migrants, including a young Afghan whose brothers aided U.S. forces, to the Central African Republic.
On Saturday, a deportation flight organized under the Trump administration landed in Bangui, Central African Republic, carrying dozens of migrants. The manifest included a young Afghan man who had been granted protection from removal to Afghanistan after a judge cited Taliban retaliation against his family; his siblings had supported U.S. military operations, with one serving in the Afghan National Army in the United States and another, a pilot trained by the United States, killed by the Taliban.
His lawyer, Alma David, highlighted the threats his family faced. The flight also transported twelve Afghans, eight Iranians, and several individuals from Nepal and Nicaragua. Advocates say the Trump administration has used secret agreements to send migrants to countries where they have no ties, exploiting a legal loophole to bypass asylum protections. This was the second such flight to the Central African Republic since June, following a previous transport of about two dozen migrants, including an Iranian woman seeking refuge.
Why it matters
It shows how U.S. immigration policy can place vulnerable asylum seekers in unsafe, unrelated countries.
How this story developed
- Aug 21 First U.S. deportation flight lands in Cap-Haïtien after TPS termination
- Aug 22 The Supreme Court upheld the revocation of Haitian temporary protected status, enabling ICE arrests and repatriations.
- Aug 24 A powerful gang coalition raided a farming community in the hills above Haiti’s capital, setting homes ablaze and killing multiple people.
- Aug 25 The prime minister’s office placed security units on high alert and sent additional forces to Kenscoff.
- Aug 26 Death toll rose to at least 47 and more than 50 people were kidnapped.
- Aug 27 Police spokesperson Garry Desrosiers addressed public inquiries, declined to disclose rescue plans, and warned that the gang threatens to kill hostages if police act.
- Aug 28 ICE carried out its first repatriation flight to Haiti and detained roughly 300 Haitians in Ohio after the TPS termination.
- Aug 29 Mayor Rob Rue said municipal authorities do not direct ICE activities.
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