A deportation flight carrying nationals from several countries has sparked concern after reports it was headed for the Central African Republic by the United States.
Lawyers say that the aircraft is transporting citizens from Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Georgia as part of an expanded use of “third-country” deportations under President Donald Trump’s immigration policy. The flight reportedly left Alexandria, Louisiana on Thursday evening and made a stopover in Ghana before continuing its journey, according to immigration tracking data.
Attorneys said some of those on board had been granted “withholding of removal” status, which prevents deportation to their home countries but offers limited legal protection. U.S. immigration lawyer Emily Trostle warned that deportees could still face eventual return to the countries they originally fled, a pattern she said has occurred in similar cases.
Another lawyer, Alma David, confirmed that the group includes migrants from Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Georgia, many of whom had previously received legal protection in the US.
U.S. and Ghanaian authorities have not yet commented on the reported operation.
