Trump plans to deport Iranians to violence-plagued Central Africa Republic in new deal
The Trump administration is making preparations to deport a group of Iranian asylum-seekers and other migrants to the Central African Republic (CAR) through a newly established third-country agreement, as reported by Reuters. The first flight under this arrangement is set to depart as early as Thursday, carrying around 20 individuals from Syria, Afghanistan, and a Turkish national.
These third-country deportation agreements have become a common mechanism for the administration to remove migrants who cannot be sent back to their home countries. Previously, a similar deal was struck with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The CAR, bordered by Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the DRC, the Republic of the Congo, and Cameroon, has a history of political instability and armed insurgencies.
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who was re-elected to a third term in December, has sought security assistance from Russia while also expressing interest in Western partnerships to develop the country’s minerals sector. However, the prospect of sending hundreds of migrants to the CAR has faced opposition from immigration defense lawyers.
Among those scheduled for deportation are two Iranian women who arrived in the US in November 2024 and were granted “withholding of removal” by an immigration judge. According to their attorney, Emily Trostle, the women face a high risk of torture and persecution if sent back to Iran. One of them is a baptized convert, and the other is a democracy activist.
The agreement with the CAR was reportedly finalized during a US delegation visit to Bangui in May. While specific details about the number of migrants and subsequent flights were not disclosed, the deportees are expected to be housed in apartments in the capital and will not be immediately repatriated.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), funded by the US, will provide voluntary post-arrival assistance to the migrants at the request of the Central African government. The agency clarified that it is not involved in the actual removal process. Several African nations, including Eswatini, the DRC, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, have accepted US deportees in exchange for financial or logistical support.
Both the State Department and Trostle have not responded to requests for comments on the matter. The situation highlights the complexities of international migration policies and the challenges faced by asylum-seekers seeking protection in the United States.
