US plans to deport Iranians to Central African Republic, sources say

What Happened

The Trump administration plans to deport a group of Iranians to the Central African Republic (CAR) under a third-country deportation deal, according to two lawyers and an official briefed on the matter. The Iranians include two women—a Christian convert and a pro-democracy activist—who had been granted withholding of removal by a U.S. immigration judge, meaning they face a greater than 50% risk of persecution or torture if returned to Iran. The first flight, expected to carry about 20 people including Syrians and Afghans, could depart as early as Thursday. Deportees will be held in apartments in Bangui, and the International Organization for Migration will provide post-arrival humanitarian assistance at CAR’s request, though it is not involved in the removals. The plan comes amid what the article describes as a three-month-old war triggered by heavy U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, with U.S. President Trump having urged Iranians to rise up against the government if a ceasefire were declared.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The deportation plan highlights the Trump administration's use of opaque third-country deals to circumvent legal protections for asylum seekers, sending individuals with recognized fear of torture to an unstable nation. It underscores the dissonance between U.S. rhetoric supporting Iranian dissidents and simultaneous actions that could endanger them, all while the U.S. is engaged in military operations against Iran. The involvement of CAR, a country plagued by violence and reliant on U.S. funding to the IOM, raises concerns about the humanitarian risks and legal accountability.

Watch For

Potential departure of the first flight as early as Thursday; legal challenges from advocates citing withholding of removal orders; reactions from human rights organizations and the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund; monitoring of deportees' treatment in CAR and any forced repatriation; further U.S. military actions or statements on Iran that could affect the deportation policy.