Key facts
- Police in Equatorial Guinea reportedly drew firearms on migrants deported from the U.S.
- The incident occurred during a dispute over mobile phone access at a hotel housing deportees.
- Deportees have previously complained of inadequate medical care and psychological distress.
- The U.S. has agreements with several African nations to accept migrants under third-country arrangements.
- U.S. officials maintain that deportations are conducted lawfully.
Police in Equatorial Guinea pulled firearms on migrants deported from the United States, according to witnesses and video footage shared with Reuters. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, has intensified concerns about the safety of individuals sent to the Central African nation under a U.S. deportation program.
Deportees have previously complained of inadequate medical care, denial of legal assistance, and severe psychological distress while being held at a hotel in Malabo. The confrontation on Saturday began as a dispute over access to mobile phones, escalating when men identified as "National Police" pointed what appeared to be assault rifles at deportees. Reuters reviewed the footage but could not independently verify the events preceding the confrontation.
The Trump administration has entered into multiple agreements with African governments to accept migrants who cannot be legally returned to their home countries. Many of these deportees had previously received protection from U.S. immigration judges who found they could face torture or abuse if repatriated. Washington has defended these third-country deals as lawful, while Equatorial Guinea has not publicly detailed the terms of housing the deportees.
Rights groups and advocates have criticized these arrangements as opaque, with some deportees allegedly being returned to the countries they originally fled. Lawyers representing some deportees stated the confrontation underscores safety concerns. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security affirmed that deportations are carried out lawfully and that ICE is not responsible for individuals once they are no longer in custody. A State Department spokesperson added that the U.S. government would use all legal means to remove those without a right to remain.
According to reports, 31 deportees are currently held at the hotel. Last month, five individuals who resisted deportation to Liberia were transported to Equatorial Guinea instead. One member of this group approached police to retrieve his confiscated mobile phone to contact relatives and a lawyer. When officers ignored the request, another deportee began filming, leading to an alleged assault by officers who pointed guns at him and demanded he kneel. The situation was eventually defused by the hotel director. A total of 53 people have been deported to Equatorial Guinea under the third-country deal between November 2025 and July, originating from various African countries, as well as Georgia, Jamaica, Brazil, and Cuba. Three deportees claimed they were encouraged to return to their home countries despite fears of torture.