Secret 3rd-Country Deportations from U.S. Strand Migrants in Equatorial Guinea

A U.S. policy of deporting migrants to third countries has left dozens stranded in Equatorial Guinea, raising legal and humanitarian concerns over the limits of judicial protections and the use of bilateral agreements.

A 28-year-old refugee, detained for 13 months in California, was told by a U.S. immigration judge he could not be returned home due to risk. “Welcome to the U.S.,” the judge said, according to the individual. “You are now protected by the U.S. law.” Instead, he was later deported in January to Equatorial Guinea, where he remains detained.

The case reflects a broader pattern. According to The Associated Press, at least 29 migrants from countries including Ethiopia, Eritrea, Nigeria, and Chad were sent to Equatorial Guinea under arrangements involving at least seven African states.

According to a February Senate Foreign Relations Committee report, the U.S. has spent at least $40 million to deport roughly 300 migrants to third countries, including $7.5 million to Equatorial Guinea.

Legal experts argue the policy exploits gaps in international protections. Deportees often received rulings preventing return to their home countries but not explicitly barring removal elsewhere.

“Once deported, these individuals face impossible alternatives,” said Meredyth Yoon, citing detention or forced return.

The refugee described pressure to leave: “They told us there is no any asylum or any protection in this country for us.” He added that returning home “was not an option” due to ethnic persecution.

Equatorial Guinea currently lacks a functioning asylum system, though UNHCR says efforts are underway.

The deportation process itself has drawn scrutiny. The refugee described being transferred across multiple U.S. states - Arizona, California, Texas, and Louisiana - before being flown out in handcuffs on an Omni Air International charter flight. He alleged mistreatment by officers, including force used during transfer.

The Department of Homeland Security denied the claims, stating officers “did NOT beat, coerce, or use racial slurs” and that all deportees “received due process” with final removal orders.

In Equatorial Guinea, detainees are reportedly held in a converted hotel in Malabo. “Most of us were sick because of the food,” the refugee said, noting hospitalizations for illness and malaria. Of the 29 deportees, 17 have already been returned to their home countries after being told no asylum options exist.

The policy is underpinned by opaque financial arrangements. Senator Jeanne Shaheen described Equatorial Guinea as “one of the most corrupt governments in the world” and questioned the $7.5 million payment tied to deportations. The deal exceeds total U.S. foreign assistance to the country over the past eight years.

At least seven African states, including Rwanda, Uganda, and Cameroon, have entered similar agreements. These arrangements coincide with broader diplomatic engagement, including a sanctions waiver allowing Vice President Teodorin Obiang to visit the U.S.

The cumulative effect has created a system where migrants legally shielded from return remain in prolonged uncertainty.

“Before, we were immigrants with hope,” the refugee said. “But here, there is no more hope.”