‘It’s inhumane’: six ICE deportees held in one of world’s most repressive regimes

Believed to be first US deportations to fourth country, six face ‘horrific conditions’ in Equatorial Guinea, say lawyers

‘It’s inhumane’: six ICE deportees held in one of world’s most repressive regimes

TL;DR

  • Six deportees refused to disembark a flight in Liberia and were instead sent to Equatorial Guinea.
  • They are reportedly being held in inhumane conditions in a former luxury hotel turned detention center in Malabo.
  • Lawyers state the deportees were not informed of their final destination and are unable to contact families or access medical care.
  • This is believed to be the first instance of the US deporting individuals to a fourth country.
  • The US has a deal with Equatorial Guinea to pay $7.5 million for third-country deportations, secured by Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue.
  • Deportees face indefinite detention or potential return to their home countries, some of which they were previously granted withholding of removal from due to risks of persecution.