Key facts
- Central African Republic has agreed to accept migrants deported from the United States.
- The deal was discussed during a May 18 meeting with a U.S. delegation.
- The U.S. has previously sent deportees to countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana.
- Rights groups argue these third-country deals allow the U.S. to bypass legal protections for some deportees.
- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will assist deportees upon arrival.
The Central African Republic has reportedly agreed to accept migrants deported from the United States, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter. This arrangement is the latest instance of the Trump administration securing deals with African nations to expedite the removal of individuals.
Washington has previously sent "third-country deportees" to countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Equatorial Guinea under agreements that have drawn criticism from Senate Democrats, who claim these deals have cost tens of millions of dollars and may circumvent legal protections granted to some migrants.
The agreement with the Central African Republic was reportedly discussed during a meeting on May 18 in Bangui between a U.S. delegation, led by State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Christian Jové Ehrhardt, and a Central African government official. Both the official and a regional diplomat, speaking anonymously, confirmed that a deal had been reached.
Details regarding the number of migrants, their nationalities, or the start date of flights remain unclear. However, a recent court judgment indicated that attempts to deport individuals to the Central African Republic were already underway, with a U.S. District Judge issuing a temporary restraining order on May 22 to block the deportation of a Turkish national planned for May 26.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed its involvement in assisting deportees upon their arrival in the Central African Republic, an agency that has provided similar assistance in other African nations. The U.S. has awarded $85 million to the IOM for its operations in the Central African Republic this year. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that all deportees receive full due process.