What You Need to Know
• Yasmany Moreno de Armas, a Cuban immigrant, was deported to the Central African Republic in July 2023.
• The Central African Republic is one of over 30 countries accepting U.S. third-country deportees under the Trump administration.
• Zena Gebrgzabher, an Eritrean native, is also stranded in the Central African Republic after his deportation from the U.S.
Yasmany Moreno de Armas, a 31-year-old Cuban immigrant, was living and working in Florida before being deported to the Central African Republic in July 2023. He learned of his deportation only upon arrival, joining other detainees from various countries, including Ecuador, Honduras, and Vietnam. Moreno de Armas expressed feelings of isolation and distress, stating he and others lack documents and are suffering in an unfamiliar continent. The Central African Republic is known for its extreme poverty and insecurity, prompting a Level 4 travel advisory from the U.S. State Department. Similarly, Zena Gebrgzabher, a 39-year-old Eritrean, is also in the Central African Republic after being deported, leaving behind his American wife and son in Maryland.
Why It Matters
The deportations to the Central African Republic highlight the U.S. government’s policy of sending third-country deportees to nations facing significant challenges. The Central African Republic is characterized by armed conflict, political instability, and widespread poverty, making it a precarious destination for deportees. This policy has drawn criticism for placing individuals in dangerous situations without prior notice or the ability to contest their deportation. The situation of Moreno de Armas and Gebrgzabher underscores the human impact of immigration enforcement policies enacted during the Trump administration.
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