US Administration Plans Controversial Deportation of Migrants to Central African Republic

The US administration is preparing to deport nearly two dozen migrants, including Iranian women, to the Central African Republic, a country facing significant instability. This controversial move has raised serious humanitarian concerns, especially as some migrants possess legal protections against deportation. Advocates are alarmed by the potential risks these individuals may face in a nation where they have no support network. As legal challenges mount, the implications of this decision continue to unfold, highlighting the complexities of US immigration policy.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 11, 2026, 20:49 IST

Controversial Deportation Plans

The current US administration is reportedly set to deport nearly twenty migrants to the Central African Republic, which includes at least two Iranian women who had sought asylum in the United States. This information comes from immigration lawyers and a US official who is knowledgeable about the situation. The group, which also consists of individuals from Afghanistan and Syria, may be flown out as soon as Thursday. If this occurs, it would be the first instance of the US deporting migrants to the Central African Republic, a nation grappling with ongoing instability and security issues.

Lawyers representing some of these migrants have indicated that several individuals scheduled for deportation possess court orders that prevent their removal to their home countries due to the risk of persecution or torture. These protections, known as "withholding of removal," are granted when immigration judges determine that deportation would expose individuals to significant danger.

According to attorney Sahar Jalili Pawelski, the two Iranian women facing deportation have clean criminal records and had previously been granted protection against being sent back to Iran. Advocates expressed that the women were taken aback upon learning they could be sent to the Central African Republic, a place where they lack family, community connections, or any support system.

This decision aligns with the administration's efforts to broaden deportations to third countries when direct removals face legal or diplomatic hurdles. US officials have been exploring agreements with various nations willing to accept deported migrants, including several in Africa.

Human rights advocates have voiced strong opposition to this plan, highlighting that the US government itself advises against travel to the Central African Republic due to safety concerns. Critics argue that relocating vulnerable migrants to such a location raises significant humanitarian issues, especially for those already recognized by US courts as facing threats in their home nations.

The Department of Homeland Security has refrained from confirming specific deportation operations, citing security reasons. Immigration attorneys are actively working to challenge these planned removals in court.