The US deported a gay asylum-seeker to a third country where homosexuality is illegal

DAKAR, Senegal — Living as a gay individual in Morocco can be challenging due to the country’s strict laws against homosexuality. For Farah, a 21-year-old woman, the fear of persecution and violence from her own family led her to flee the country.

After a difficult journey to the United States, Farah was ultimately deported by the Trump administration to a third country before finding herself back in Morocco, where she now lives in hiding.

Despite having protection orders from a U.S. immigration judge, Farah remains fearful of being discovered by her family. She shared her harrowing experience of fleeing persecution and seeking asylum, only to face further challenges upon her return to Morocco.

Before escaping, Farah endured physical abuse from her family and her partner’s family upon learning about their relationship. Forced to leave her family home, Farah and her partner sought refuge in another city, only to be hunted down by her family.

Through a risky journey that spanned multiple countries, Farah and her partner attempted to reach the U.S. border to seek asylum. Despite facing detention and inadequate medical care in the U.S., Farah was eventually granted a protection order from an immigration judge.

However, Farah’s ordeal took a cruel turn when she was unexpectedly deported to Cameroon, a country where homosexuality is also illegal. She was later flown back to Morocco, where she continues to live in fear.

Farah’s case is just one of many where individuals with legal protection from U.S. immigration judges have been deported to third countries as a means of pressuring them to leave the U.S. voluntarily.

The use of third-country deportations raises concerns about due process rights and the violation of international treaties. Farah’s story sheds light on the challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals seeking asylum in an increasingly hostile immigration environment.

As Farah navigates the uncertainty of her future in Morocco, she remains resilient in the face of adversity, determined to live authentically despite the obstacles she has faced.