A federal judge in the United States has instructed the Trump administration to aid in the repatriation of an Egyptian individual who was deported to Equatorial Guinea earlier this year and subsequently detained there.
Ahmed Soliman is among numerous migrants who have been transferred from the U.S. to African nations through third-country deportation agreements, a method employed by the U.S. government to expedite deportations.
Soliman reported mistreatment by Equatorial Guinean authorities, with video evidence showing police brandishing firearms at a group of migrants, including Soliman, at the Hotel Bamy in Malabo, where they were being held.
Following media coverage of the incident, Soliman was apprehended and has been held incommunicado at a police station that is known for detaining human rights activists.
A U.S. judge, John C. Hinderaker, has mandated the Department of Homeland Security to facilitate Soliman’s release and return to the U.S., including arranging necessary travel documents. The DHS and Equatorial Guinea have not yet responded to requests for comments on the case.
Soliman, aged 31, expressed concerns about facing harm in Egypt due to his sexual orientation. He jeopardized his legal status in the U.S. by committing a felony in 2021, leading to his deportation in April without a fair hearing on his asylum claims.
Human Rights Watch noted that hundreds of individuals have been deported to African countries where they lack citizenship or residency. Concerns have been raised about deporting LGBTQ individuals to nations hostile to their rights.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen criticized a significant payment made to Equatorial Guinea for facilitating third-country deportations, citing concerns about transparency and the use of taxpayer funds.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to review the practice of deporting individuals to third countries, with ongoing debates on the legality and ethical considerations surrounding such deportations. Human rights advocates have urged the U.S. to halt this practice, emphasizing the risks faced by vulnerable groups in unfamiliar territories.