US to Deport Iranian Women to Central African Republic
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- U.S. administration has arranged to deport a group of Iranians and other migrants to the Central African Republic under a third‑country agreement.
- Two Iranian women—a Christian convert and a pro‑democracy activist—were detained after arriving in the United States in November 2024 and have withholding of removal, but face possible torture if returned to Iran.
- First flight to Bangui is expected to carry about 20 people, including Syrians, Afghans and a Turkish national, and could depart as early as Thursday.
- CAR authorities will house the deportees in apartments in the capital and do not anticipate immediate repatriation; officials say hundreds may eventually be sent there.
- Homeland Security says all deportees will receive full due process, while the International Organization for Migration will provide voluntary post‑arrival humanitarian assistance.
- U.S. government has used similar third‑country removal deals with the Democratic Republic of Congo and defends the arrangements as lawful despite criticism over opacity.
Why it matters: The plan puts the two Iranian women—both at risk of torture if returned—into a nation plagued by violence and poverty, while the United States expands its third‑country removal pipeline, shifting responsibility for migrants to a fragile state and prompting criticism from rights groups.
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