Cuban and Eritrean immigrants, deported under US policies, find themselves stateless and stranded in the Central African Republic, a nation plagued by conflict and extreme poverty.
- The U.S. has deported individuals from Cuba, Eritrea, and other nations to the Central African Republic (CAR).
- Deportees report being sent without prior notice or the ability to challenge their relocation to a third country.
- The Central African Republic is a high-risk zone with a Level 4 travel advisory due to instability and armed conflict.
For Yasmany Moreno de Armas, a 31-year-old Cuban immigrant who once lived in Florida, the reality of U.S. immigration enforcement has taken a terrifying turn. Instead of being returned to Cuba, he and dozens of others have been dropped into the Central African Republic, a landlocked nation struggling with extreme poverty and violent instability. Moreno de Armas, who had never heard of the country before his arrival in Bangui, describes a state of total isolation.
"We cannot leave, we don't have documents and we're suffering and missing our families, in a continent we don't know," Moreno de Armas stated in a video call to CBS News. The group of deportees is diverse, including individuals from Ecuador, Honduras, Serbia, Russia, and Vietnam, all now stuck in a region where they lack linguistic and cultural ties.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that this represents a significant shift in deportation tactics, where the U.S. utilizes 'third-country' agreements to bypass legal protections. By sending individuals to nations that are not their homelands, the administration effectively sidesteps domestic court rulings that might have prevented their return to specific high-risk countries like Eritrea or Cuba.
"If you're going to be deported, it should be to your home country, not to another country where you don't know the culture," argued Moreno de Armas.
The case of Zena Gebrgzabher highlights the legal complexities of this strategy. An Eritrean native and former truck driver in Maryland, Gebrgzabher had actually won legal protection under the Convention Against Torture, which barred his return to Eritrea. However, U.S. officials utilized a loophole, sending him to the Central African Republic instead. His wife and five-year-old son, both American citizens, are now left in the U.S. wondering about his fate.
Historical Background
Traditionally, deportation processes focus on returning individuals to their country of origin. However, as countries like Cuba have become more restrictive regarding accepting deportees, the U.S. has increasingly sought agreements with other nations. This has led to a growing list of more than 30 countries being used as destinations for 'third-country' deportees, many of which are among the most unstable regions globally.
| Factor | Home Country (e.g., Cuba/Eritrea) | Third Country (CAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Status | Protected/Restricted | Stateless/Undocumented |
| Safety Level | High Risk (Specific) | Extreme Risk (General) |
| Family Connection | Existing | None |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: What is a 'third-country' deportation?
Answer: It is the practice of sending a deportee to a nation that is neither their country of origin nor their country of residence, often through bilateral agreements.
Question 2: Why were these individuals not notified?
Answer: Many deportees claim they were processed and moved without the opportunity to challenge the specific destination of their deportation in court.
