A judge in the United States has instructed the Trump administration to help bring back an Egyptian man who was deported to Equatorial Guinea and subsequently imprisoned there. Ahmed Soliman is among many migrants sent from the U.S. to African nations as part of third-country deportation agreements to expedite removals.
Soliman reported mistreatment by Equatorial Guinean police last month, with video evidence showing officers brandishing firearms at a group of migrants, including Soliman, at the Hotel Bamy in Malabo. Following media coverage, Soliman was detained and is currently held incommunicado at a police station also used for detaining human rights activists.
In a recent ruling, U.S. Judge John C. Hinderaker ordered the Department of Homeland Security to secure Soliman’s release and return to the U.S., including arranging necessary travel documents. Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor Equatorial Guinea have responded to requests for comments on Soliman’s situation.
Soliman, aged 31, expressed concerns about his safety in Egypt due to his sexual orientation. He compromised his legal residency status last year after a fentanyl-related incident, leading to a prison sentence. Despite ongoing legal proceedings, Soliman was deported before his case could be fully heard.
Human Rights Watch documented several cases of individuals deported to African countries where LGBTQ rights are not protected. U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen criticized a multi-million dollar payment to Equatorial Guinea for third-country removals, citing potential misuse of taxpayer funds.
The U.S. government has faced criticism for deporting individuals to countries where they may face mistreatment. The current administration’s deportation policies have been scrutinized for lacking due process and targeting lawful residents and citizens in immigration actions.
Human rights activists estimate over 25,000 migrants have been deported to non-native countries, prompting calls from UN experts to halt the practice. The U.S. Supreme Court will review the legality of deporting migrants to countries other than their own, with a temporary hold on a previous ruling against the practice.