The Trump administration’s “third country deportation” policy has resulted in the removal of more than 25,000 people to nations where they lack connections, according to administration figures. Two Cuban immigrants, Arístides Fernandez-Garcia and Yasmany Noel Moreno-De Armas, were deported on July 30, 2026, to the Central African Republic despite having no ties to the country. Neither man had criminal convictions, and Fernandez-Garcia did not even possess a deportation order before being removed. Both individuals report fearing return to Cuba due to their status as rafters who sought entry under previous immigration protections, yet they say they were not informed of their destination until after boarding the aircraft.
A federal appeals court ruled on Sept. 18 that the deportation policy violates due process protections, finding that migrants were not given adequate notice or meaningful opportunity to express concerns about being sent to third countries. The Trump administration subsequently appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court on Sept. 24. The Department of Homeland Security has defended the practice as an essential public safety measure targeting dangerous criminal aliens, though NPR found no criminal charges against either Fernandez-Garcia or Moreno-De Armas in Florida. The agency maintains that people face removal receive notice and assurances beforehand, and that the U.S. obtains diplomatic guarantees from destination countries regarding deportees’ safety.
Life in the Central African Republic presents significant challenges for the deportees. The State Department advises Americans against visiting due to kidnapping risks, landmines, and terrorism threats. The International Organization for Migration provides housing in Bangui, the capital, and armed guards accompany the men whenever they leave the complex. Four deportees share each apartment, with Fernandez-Garcia and Moreno-De Armas sharing a bedroom. The men remain without work authorization or visas two months after arrival, shopping twice weekly for supplies at a nearby market and communicating with family through WhatsApp when power is available.
Both men have experienced health issues, including malaria and hypertension-related complications. However, they identify the loss of time with family members as their greatest suffering. Other deportees report similar desperation; Roberto Mosquera, deported to Eswatini, has been imprisoned in a high-security correctional facility for over a year despite having already completed his sentence in the United States. The deportees remain uncertain about their legal status and future prospects, with their primary strategy involving social media outreach and media interviews in hopes of drawing attention to their situations.
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