U.S. Sends Afghan and Iranian Migrants to Central African Republic
WHO:
[12:11 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Trump administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Emily Trostle (lawyer for the Iranian pro-democracy activist), Ali Rahnama (interim legal director at the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund), Sahar Jalili Pawelski (immigration lawyer), Margaret Stock (lawyer for an elderly Syrian man).
[12:11 PM EDT] - CBS News - The deportees included migrants from Afghanistan, Iran, Armenia, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey, and Georgia.
WHAT:
[12:11 PM EDT] - CBS News - The U.S. government warns Americans not to visit the Central African Republic "for any reason" due to violence and unrest.
[12:11 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Central African Republic is one of several countries with a "Level 4" travel advisory from the State Department.
[12:11 PM EDT] - CBS News - The State Department advises Americans in the Central African Republic to draft a will, make "proof of life" protocols with loved ones, and leave DNA samples with medical providers.
[12:11 PM EDT] - AP News - The Central African Republic is one of at least nine African nations that has agreed to take third-country nationals deported by the U.S.
[12:11 PM EDT] - AP News - The Central African Republic is one of the poorest countries in the world, with one in three people living on less than $2 a day.
[12:11 PM EDT] - AP News - The Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary group, has been active in the Central African Republic and is responsible for President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s security.
[12:11 PM EDT] - AP News - The Central African Republic is one of Russia’s closest allies in Africa, despite recent tensions between President Touadéra and Russia.
[12:11 PM EDT] - CBS News - Approximately 20 migrants were deported from the U.S. to the Central African Republic.
[12:11 PM EDT] - CBS News - The deportation flight included an Iranian pro-democracy activist who had received legal protection from an American immigration court.
[12:11 PM EDT] - CBS News - Two Iranian women were transported to Louisiana for deportation but were ultimately not put on the plane.
[12:11 PM EDT] - AP News - Around two dozen migrants were set to arrive in the Central African Republic on a deportation flight from the United States.
[12:11 PM EDT] - AP News - The deportation flight left Louisiana late Thursday.
WHERE:
[12:11 PM EDT] - CBS News - The deportation occurred from the United States to the Central African Republic.
[12:11 PM EDT] - AP News - The Central African Republic's capital is Bangui.
WHEN:
[12:11 PM EDT] - CBS News - The deportation flight occurred on a Friday.
[12:11 PM EDT] - AP News - The deportation flight was scheduled for Thursday.
WHY:
[12:11 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Trump administration's deportations are part of an aggressive crackdown on immigration, targeting those who have received withholding of removal protections.
[12:11 PM EDT] - AP News - The Trump administration has been criticized for its deals with African and Latin American nations to take third-country deportees.
HOW:
[12:11 PM EDT] - CBS News - The U.S. government has persuaded several countries to accept deportees who are not their own citizens, including countries with armed conflict and political turmoil.
[12:11 PM EDT] - AP News - The Trump administration uses deportations to third countries as a legal loophole to indirectly force asylum seekers back to their home countries.
(UPDATED June 13, 2026 01:44 UTC)
The U.S. government is urging Americans to avoid traveling to the Central African Republic due to ongoing violence and unrest, which has led to a "Level 4" travel advisory from the State Department. For those already in the country, the State Department recommends drafting a will, establishing "proof of life" protocols with loved ones, and leaving DNA samples with medical providers. The Central African Republic, one of the poorest nations globally, is also notable for its ties to the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organization that provides security for President Faustin-Archange Touadéra.
--
(UPDATED June 12, 2026 17:52 UTC)
In a significant development, approximately 20 migrants, including an Iranian pro-democracy activist who had received legal protection from an American immigration court, were deported from the U.S. to the Central African Republic. The deportation flight, which left Louisiana late Thursday, involved individuals from several countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq, while two Iranian women were transported to Louisiana for deportation but ultimately did not board the plane. This action is part of the Trump administration's aggressive crackdown on immigration, utilizing deals with various nations to accept deportees who are not their own citizens, often targeting those who have received withholding of removal protections.