Trump admin plans to deport Iranian asylum-seekers to conflict-hit Central African Republic
WASHINGTON, DC: The Trump administration is preparing to deport a group of migrants, including Iranian asylum-seekers, to the Central African Republic (CAR) under a newly negotiated third-country agreement, according to reports. The first flight is expected to carry roughly 20 migrants from several countries, including Iran, Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey.
The planned removals come as the administration continues to pursue agreements with foreign governments willing to accept migrants who cannot be returned directly to their countries of origin. Federal authorities previously reached a similar arrangement with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Iranian asylum-seekers among migrants scheduled for removal
Among those reportedly scheduled to be deported are two Iranian women who entered the United States in November 2024 and later obtained protection from removal to Iran through US immigration court proceedings.
🇺🇸 Trump admin preparing to deport a group of Iranian, Syrian, Afghan and other migrants to the Central African Republic under a new third-country agreement.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 12, 2026
The group includes two Iranian women, a Christian convert and a pro-democracy activist, who had been granted protection… pic.twitter.com/R8a1LUTURD
According to attorney Emily Trostle, one of the women is a baptized religious convert and the other is a democracy activist. Trostle said both face the risk of persecution or torture if returned to Iran. The women had filed asylum claims after arriving in the United States and subsequently received “withholding of removal” protections from an immigration judge.
Immigration attorneys representing other migrants on the flight have also raised concerns. One lawyer said a Syrian man scheduled for removal had previously been tortured in his home country and had been granted protection from deportation after an immigration judge found his fears credible.
The attorney said the man suffers from diabetes and could face serious health risks because of limited access to medical care in the Central African Republic. Lawyers and advocacy groups argue that the migrants have no connection to the Central African Republic and question whether the country can be considered a safe destination.
Third-country deportation strategy draws scrutiny
The agreement with the Central African Republic reportedly emerged from discussions during a US delegation visit to the capital city of Bangui in May. While details of the arrangement remain limited, reports indicate that deportees would initially be housed in apartments in Bangui and would not face immediate repatriation to their home countries.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed that it would provide voluntary post-arrival humanitarian assistance at the request of the Central African government. The organization emphasized that it is not involved in carrying out deportations.
The Central African Republic has experienced decades of political instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. The country has endured multiple coups, armed insurgencies and persistent security challenges. The US State Department currently advises Americans not to travel there because of security concerns.
It's hard to fathom how deeply evil this is, and that we have people running our country who get sick pleasure from sending women fleeing violence in Iran to an African country in the middle of a brutal civil war. https://t.co/JaN8z2LFI2
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 11, 2026
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn) also criticized the planned deportations, calling the policy “deeply evil” and accusing the administration of sending women fleeing violence in Iran to a country affected by ongoing conflict. "we have people running our country who get sick pleasure from sending women fleeing violence in Iran to an African country in the middle of a brutal civil war," he said,
