The Trump administration has expanded its "third country" deportation campaign by sending more than 100 deportees from Afghanistan, Cuba, Nicaragua, Iran, Nepal, Turkey, Venezuela to eight African countries over a 10-day period. According to internal U.S. government documents obtained by CBS News, three Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation flights dropped off dozens of men and women in Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Liberia, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone.
Key Takeaways
The Trump administration has deported over 100 people from Afghanistan, Cuba, Nicaragua, Iran, Nepal, Turkey, Venezuela to eight African countries under its third-country deportation policy. The latest ICE flight dropped off detainees in Sierra Leone and the Central African Republic (CAR), where a U.S. State Department advisory warns against travel due to widespread violence and insecurity.
- Over 100 deportees sent to Africa over a 10-day period
- Latest ICE flight drops off detainees in CAR, one of the most dangerous countries globally
- Afghan man with family ties to U.S. military deported despite legal protection
- DHS offers $3,000 and free flights for voluntary returns home
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▼Source Claims Check
2 Differences FoundAll 4 publishers report consistent facts across 3 key claims. 2 points of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Countries Receiving Deportees | 1 Difference | CBS News reports eight countries; other sources focus on CAR. | ▼ |
| Khalil's Legal Protection | 1 Difference | CBS News and other sources specify 'withholding of removal'; Al Jazeera uses broader term. | ▼ |
| Number Of Deportees | Broad Agreement | Over 100 sent to Africa over a 10-day period | |
| Number Of Flights | Broad Agreement | Three ICE deportation flights over a 10-day period. | |
| Khalil's Brothers' Involvement | Broad Agreement | One brother served in Afghan National Army; another was a pilot killed by Taliban. |
Countries Receiving Deportees
▼CBS News reports eight countries; other sources focus on CAR.
Khalil's Legal Protection
▼CBS News and other sources specify 'withholding of removal'; Al Jazeera uses broader term.
Number Of Deportees
Broad AgreementOver 100 sent to Africa over a 10-day period
Number Of Flights
Broad AgreementThree ICE deportation flights over a 10-day period.
Khalil's Brothers' Involvement
Broad AgreementOne brother served in Afghan National Army; another was a pilot killed by Taliban.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The latest ICE flight landed in Bangui, CAR's capital. The country is described as one of the most dangerous globally due to longstanding armed conflict and Russian mercenaries. A "Level 4" U.S. State Department advisory warns Americans against traveling there for any reason, citing widespread violence and insecurity.
Among those deported was an Afghan man in his early twenties whose family helped American forces fight the Taliban. Khalil crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally in 2024 and was held by ICE during his entire time in the U.S., according to CBS News. In August 2025, while detained, he was granted a legal protection known as "withholding of removal" by a U.S. immigration judge who found he could face persecution in Afghanistan.
However, this protection did not prevent his deportation to a third country. The Trump administration has increasingly sought to deport those who've won limited protections in immigration court to third countries. Khalil's lawyer, Alma David, criticized the policy, stating that "The goal is to obliterate the global refugee protection system."
The Departments of Homeland Security and State have not commented on the specifics of the deportations. DHS stated that if an illegal alien chooses to file a claim in court refusing to go to their home country, they are required by law to find a safe and secure nation for them to go to.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 4 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.