US deports 12 Afghans to Central African Republic

The Associated Press reported that a flight carrying the deportees landed in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, on Saturday. It was the second such US deportation flight to the country since June.

Savi Arvey, director of policy, refugee and immigrant rights at Human Rights First, said the flight carried 12 Afghans, eight Iranians and nationals of Nepal and Nicaragua.

According to the report, one of the Afghan deportees is a young man whose family members had previously worked with US forces.

His lawyer, Alma David, said a US judge had granted him protection from deportation to Afghanistan because of security concerns over his possible return.

The man has a brother in the US who served in the former Afghan National Army and worked with US forces before the Islamic Emirate returned to power in 2021.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has previously said the country is the common home of all Afghans and that Afghans living abroad can return safely.

Citing migrant rights advocates, AP reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump had deported thousands of migrants to countries other than their countries of origin under agreements, some of which remain confidential.