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In a stark case highlighting the complexities of U.S. deportation policies, a 21-year-old gay woman from Morocco finds herself back in her home country after being deported via a third nation, despite having protection orders from a U.S. immigration judge.
Farah, who asked to be identified only by her first name for safety reasons, fled Morocco after facing violence from her family who discovered her relationship with another woman. Homosexuality is illegal in Morocco and punishable by up to three years in prison, but Farah says it was familial violence that forced her to flee.
“It is hard to live and work with the fear of being tracked once again by my family,” she told The Associated Press. “But there is nothing I can do. I have to work.”
Her journey began when she and her partner obtained visas for Brazil, with the ultimate goal of reaching the United States. After trekking through six countries over several weeks, they arrived at the U.S. border in early 2025 and requested asylum.
Instead of finding sanctuary, Farah spent nearly a year in detention facilities in Arizona and Louisiana. She described harsh conditions, including inadequate medical care and insufficient protection from the cold. “We only had very thin blankets,” she recalled.
Though denied asylum, Farah received a protection order from a U.S. immigration judge in August, ruling she could not be deported to Morocco as it would endanger her life. Her partner, who received neither asylum nor protection orders, was deported directly.
Just three days before a hearing on her release, Farah says Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials handcuffed her and placed her on a plane to Cameroon—a country she had never visited and where homosexuality is also illegal. From a detention facility there, she was eventually returned to Morocco.
Farah’s case is not isolated. Lawyers and human rights advocates have confirmed dozens of similar cases where individuals with legal protection orders were deported to third countries under the Trump administration. According to attorney Alma David of the Novo Legal Group, who verified Farah’s account, eight deportees on the January flight to Cameroon had received protection orders from U.S. judges.
“By deporting them to Cameroon, and giving them no opportunity to contest being sent to a country whose government hoped to quietly send them back to the very countries where they face grave danger, the U.S. not only violated their due process rights but our own immigration laws, our obligations under international treaties and even DHS’ own procedures,” David explained.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has confirmed deportations to Cameroon, stating: “We are applying the law as written. If a judge finds an illegal alien has no right to be in this country, we are going to remove them. Period.” The department maintains that third-country agreements “ensure due process under the U.S. Constitution.”
Cameroon is one of at least seven African nations receiving deported third-country nationals under agreements with the U.S. Others include South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Eswatini, Ghana and Equatorial Guinea. Documents released by the State Department show some nations have received millions of dollars in exchange for accepting deportees.
A recent report from the Democratic staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee states the Trump administration has spent at least $40 million to deport approximately 300 migrants to countries other than their own. Internal administration documents reviewed by the AP indicate that 47 third-country agreements are in various stages of negotiation.
Joseph Awah Fru, a lawyer representing deportees in Cameroon, reports that the detention facility in Yaoundé currently holds 15 deportees from various African countries who arrived on two separate flights. None are Cameroonian citizens.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) acknowledged awareness of these removals but characterized its role as providing information about options and ensuring voluntary returns. The organization noted that the Yaoundé facility is managed by Cameroonian authorities.
Now hiding in Morocco, Farah reflects on her treatment with dismay. “The USA is built on immigration and by immigrant labor, so we’re clearly not all threats,” she said. “What was done to me was unfair. A normal deportation would have been fair, but to go through so much and lose so much, only to be deported in such a way, is cruel.”
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12 Comments
This is a deeply concerning case that reveals significant flaws in the U.S. asylum and deportation system. Deporting a gay individual to a country where homosexuality is illegal is a grave violation of human rights and completely unacceptable. Urgent reforms are needed to ensure the asylum process is fair, humane, and protects the most vulnerable.
Agreed. The treatment of Farah is a disturbing breach of the principles of asylum and refugee protection. This case must be thoroughly investigated, and the responsible parties held accountable. Meaningful change is needed to prevent such injustices from happening again.
This case highlights the complex and often inhumane nature of U.S. deportation policies. While seeking asylum, this young woman faced detention, inadequate care, and ultimately deportation to a country where her safety is at risk due to her sexual orientation. It’s a tragic situation that demands further examination and reform of the asylum process.
Agreed, the treatment of asylum seekers, especially vulnerable individuals like LGBTQ+ people, needs to be improved. Deporting someone to a country where they could face imprisonment or violence is unacceptable.
Farah’s story is a heartbreaking reminder of the human toll of rigid immigration policies. Fleeing violence only to face further trauma and the threat of imprisonment is a cruel injustice. This case highlights the need for more nuanced, compassionate approaches to asylum that prioritize the safety and dignity of vulnerable individuals.
Absolutely. The U.S. must do more to uphold its responsibility to protect the human rights of asylum seekers, regardless of their country of origin or sexual orientation. Cases like Farah’s demand immediate attention and reform.
Farah’s story is a heartbreaking example of the real-world consequences of discriminatory immigration policies. Forcing a vulnerable asylum seeker to return to a country where they face persecution and possible imprisonment due to their sexual orientation is a grave moral and legal failure. This case demands immediate attention and reform.
Absolutely. The deporting of Farah to a country where homosexuality is criminalized is a profound violation of human rights and the principles of asylum. This case highlights the urgent need for a complete overhaul of the U.S. asylum system to ensure it is fair, humane, and protects the most vulnerable.
The details of Farah’s story are heartbreaking. Fleeing violence in her home country only to face further trauma and uncertainty through the U.S. asylum and deportation process is a devastating outcome. This case highlights the urgent need for more compassionate and humane policies to protect vulnerable asylum seekers.
Absolutely. No one should have to endure such a harrowing ordeal when seeking safe haven. The U.S. must do better to uphold its obligations to protect the human rights of asylum seekers.
This is a disturbing example of the real-world consequences of flawed immigration policies. Deporting a gay asylum seeker to a country where homosexuality is criminalized shows a severe lack of empathy and disregard for human rights. Reforms are clearly needed to ensure the asylum process is fair and protects the most vulnerable.
Agreed. The treatment of Farah is unacceptable and undermines the fundamental principles of asylum and refugee protection. Urgent action is needed to address the systemic issues that led to this outcome.