The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to deport a group of Iranian asylum seekers to the Central African Republic under a newly established third-country agreement. The first flight under this arrangement could take place as early as Thursday, carrying approximately 20 individuals. The deportation initiative includes not only Iranian nationals but also people from Syria, Afghanistan, and at least one Turkish citizen. Federal authorities have increasingly turned to these third-country deportation agreements as a legal mechanism to remove migrants who cannot be legally returned to their countries of origin.
The Central African Republic, bordered by Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, and Cameroon, has experienced severe political instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. The nation has witnessed six coups, persistent armed insurgencies, and ongoing risks of mass atrocities against civilians. President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, recently re-elected to a third term in December, has relied heavily on Russian security assistance while simultaneously exploring partnerships with Western nations to develop the country’s critical minerals sector.
Immigration attorneys raise concerns over deportee safety
Among those scheduled for the upcoming flight are two Iranian women who arrived in the United States in November 2024 and successfully secured withholding of removal from a U.S. immigration judge. Emily Trostle, their attorney, emphasized that both women face significant risks of torture and persecution if forcibly returned to Iran. One woman is a baptized Christian convert, while the other is known as a democracy activist. Both were detained immediately upon arrival and filed asylum applications that resulted in protection orders from an immigration judge.
Immigration defense lawyers have expressed strong opposition to the new deportation arrangement, particularly given the Central African Republic’s ongoing security challenges and weak state infrastructure. The decision to send hundreds of migrants to a nation plagued by violence has triggered concerns about the safety and well-being of deportees. Critics argue that the administration is prioritizing removal numbers over individual safety assessments.
Financial arrangements and humanitarian support framework
The deportation deal was finalized during a U.S. delegation visit to Bangui, the Central African capital, in May. Initial details regarding the total number of migrants, specific nationalities, and the timing of subsequent flights remain limited. Once in the Central African Republic, deportees are expected to be housed in apartments in Bangui without facing immediate repatriation to their countries of origin.
- The International Organization for Migration received $85 million in U.S. funding this year
- IOM will provide strictly voluntary humanitarian assistance upon request from the Central African government
- The agency maintains it remains uninvolved in the actual removal operations
- At least eight African nations have accepted U.S. deportees in exchange for financial or logistical support
The International Organization for Migration has confirmed its role in providing post-arrival humanitarian assistance, though the organization emphasizes this support is entirely voluntary and comes at the explicit request of the Central African government. The IOM has made clear it does not participate in the actual deportation operations themselves.
Expanding network of third-country deportation agreements
The Trump administration has developed an expanding network of third-country deportation agreements across Africa. At least eight African nations, including Eswatini, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, have accepted U.S. deportees. These arrangements typically involve financial compensation or logistical support in exchange for accepting migrants who cannot be returned to their home countries. Federal authorities previously established a similar removal agreement with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The administration has positioned these third-country agreements as lawful mechanisms for managing immigration enforcement when direct deportation is not legally viable. Officials argue that such arrangements are necessary for maintaining immigration control while navigating complex international law restrictions on returning individuals to countries where they may face persecution. The strategy represents a significant shift in how the United States handles certain categories of asylum seekers and migrants.
Legal protections and ongoing judicial proceedings
The case of the two Iranian women highlights tensions between immigration enforcement priorities and existing judicial protections. Both women received withholding of removal orders from an immigration judge, a form of protection that prevents deportation to countries where an individual would face persecution or torture. Despite these judicial determinations, the women are now scheduled for deportation to a third country rather than their nation of origin.
The legal framework surrounding third-country deportations remains complex and contested. Immigration attorneys argue that sending protected individuals to unstable nations with limited infrastructure may violate the spirit of judicial protections, even if technically complying with the letter of immigration law. The Central African Republic’s ongoing security challenges and history of violence against civilians raise questions about whether deportees will genuinely be safe from the persecution they originally fled.
The State Department has not responded to requests for comment regarding the safety assessments conducted for the Central African Republic or the vetting process for third-country deportation destinations. Attorney Emily Trostle similarly did not provide additional comments beyond her initial statements about her clients’ cases. The implementation of this agreement will likely face continued scrutiny from immigration advocates and human rights organizations as more flights are scheduled in the coming months.
