Migrants deported from US, including an Iranian woman, arrive in Central African Republic

On June 12, 2026, a charter flight operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security landed in Bangui, Central African Republic, carrying at least two dozen migrants deported from the United States. Among the deportees were individuals from Iran, Jordan, Armenia, Turkey, Georgia, and Afghanistan. Notably, the group included an Iranian woman who had sought asylum in the U.S. due to fears of persecution in her home country.

This deportation is part of a series of third-country agreements implemented during the Trump administration, allowing the U.S. to deport migrants to nations they are not originally from, thereby bypassing traditional asylum protections. The Central African Republic, despite being one of the world's poorest and conflict-ridden countries, has become one of the destinations under these agreements.

Human rights advocates have raised concerns about the safety and well-being of the deportees. The International Organization for Migration is providing humanitarian aid at the request of the Central African government. However, the presence of the Russian Wagner group in the country adds to the security concerns, especially for deportees like the Iranian woman, who may face heightened risks.

The Biden administration has not commented on this specific deportation case. The lack of transparency surrounding these third-country agreements continues to draw criticism from human rights organizations and legal experts.