U.S. deports Afghan relative to war‑torn Central African Republic

An Afghan national who had previously been granted protection status in the United States is among a group of dozens of individuals who were deported to the Central African Republic (CAR), a country currently embroiled in armed conflict. The deportation, carried out by U.S. immigration authorities, was part of a broader effort to relocate certain asylum seekers to third countries deemed “safe” by the U.S. government. The CAR, however, has been in a state of civil war since 2013, with ongoing violence and a fragile security environment that has raised concerns among human rights observers.

The decision to send the Afghan national to CAR follows a policy shift that has seen the U.S. move away from returning asylum seekers to their home countries when those nations are considered unsafe. Instead, the government has opted to transfer them to other states, including those with unstable conditions. The Afghan individual’s case was reportedly reviewed by U.S. immigration officials who concluded that the person could not be returned to Afghanistan due to the risk of persecution, yet deemed CAR a suitable destination under the new guidelines. Human rights groups have criticized the move, arguing that it violates international obligations to protect individuals from returning to dangerous environments.

The deportation of this Afghan national and others to the war‑torn CAR underscores the challenges faced by countries balancing immigration control with humanitarian responsibilities. As the U.S. continues to adjust its asylum policies, the safety and legal status of deported individuals remain a contentious issue, with international organizations calling for stricter adherence to the principle of non‑refoulement.