ICE Expands ‘Third Country’ Deportations, Sending Afghans and Others to Africa

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — Recent government documents reveal that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted three deportation flights, transporting numerous individuals to various African countries including Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Liberia, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone.

None of the deportees originated from the countries to which they were sent. The flights, which occurred over the past week and a half, included individuals from Afghanistan, Cuba, Nicaragua, Iran, Nepal, Turkey, Venezuela, and African detainees unrelated to their destination nations.

These documents, previously unreported, shed light on the Trump administration’s escalating use of ‘third country’ deportation agreements. These agreements allow the U.S. to deport groups of individuals to countries where they have no connections.

Over 30 countries worldwide have agreed to accept such deportations from the U.S., with a notable increase in African nations entering into these deals. These include conflict-ridden countries like the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan.

The specifics of these international agreements remain largely confidential. However, it is known that some African countries, such as Ghana and Sierra Leone, only accept deportees from other African nations. Meanwhile, countries like Eswatini, the Central African Republic, and Liberia have received detainees from Latin America, Europe, and Asia.

Some deportees sent to Africa have criminal records in addition to immigration violations, while many others lack any criminal history beyond illegal entry or lack of proper documentation.

The most recent ICE flights to Africa delivered detainees to Sierra Leone and the Central African Republic, both of which face significant security challenges. The U.S. State Department has issued a ‘Level 4’ advisory, warning Americans to avoid traveling to the Central African Republic due to widespread violence and insecurity.

Among those deported to the Central African Republic was an Afghan man named Khalil. Despite having been granted legal protection in a U.S. immigration court, Khalil was deported under a ‘third country’ agreement. His case has raised concerns about the safety and legality of such deportations.

Zachary Schmidt, an active-duty Marine colonel who worked with Khalil’s brother in Afghanistan, expressed concerns about Khalil’s safety in the Central African Republic and the potential for him to be returned to Afghanistan. Schmidt emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to protect those who aided the American war effort in Afghanistan.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)