Trapped in Africa: US Deports Migrants to Nation They Can’t Escape
When "Go Home" Means a Country You’ve Never Heard Of: The Story of Deportees Sent to Central African Republic
What Happened? A Simple Overview
Imagine being told you have to leave your home immediately. You pack a small bag, get on a plane, and when you land, you realize you’re not in your home country—you’re in a place you’ve never heard of, where you don’t speak the language, have no family, and have no way to leave.
This is exactly what happened to Yasmany Moreno de Armas (from Cuba) and Zena Gebrgzabher (from Eritrea). Both men were living and working in the United States. Then, the U.S. government put them on a plane to the Central African Republic (CAR)—one of the poorest and most dangerous countries in the world.
Who Are These Men?
Yasmany Moreno de Armas, 31
- From: Cuba
- Was living in: Florida
- Work: Had a job and built a life in the U.S.
- Family: Misses his family deeply
- Legal history: Fled Cuba twice. First time, he was imprisoned for "illegal exit." Second time (2016), he arrived by boat in Florida and was allowed in under a special policy for Cubans ("Wet Foot, Dry Foot"). He applied for a green card but missed a deadline.
- Deportation: Arrested by immigration officials in May 2024, held for about a year, then flown to CAR in July 2025.
Zena Gebrgzabher, 39
- From: Eritrea
- Was living in: Maryland
- Work: Truck driver
- Family: Wife and 5-year-old son are U.S. citizens living in Maryland
- Legal history: Fled Eritrea after being forcibly conscripted into the military at 18. An immigration judge ruled in 2017 that he could not be sent back to Eritrea because he would face torture (protection under the Convention Against Torture). He checked in with immigration authorities regularly for years.
- Deportation: Arrested during a routine check-in appointment in 2024, then flown to CAR.
Important Point: Neither man had a serious criminal record—only traffic tickets and immigration violations (like entering without permission).
Where Is the Central African Republic? And Why Is It a Problem?
The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country in the center of Africa.
Fast Facts About CAR:
- One of the poorest countries in the world
- Active armed conflict — fighting between government forces, rebel groups, and Russian mercenaries
- U.S. State Department Level 4 Travel Advisory — "Do Not Travel" (highest warning level)
- Official languages: French and Sango (neither man speaks these)
- No connection to either man — they have no family, friends, or cultural ties there
Callout: This Is Not a Safe Place
The U.S. government tells American citizens not to go there. Yet it sent two men—who had lived in the U.S. for years—to live there indefinitely, with no documents, no support, and no way to leave.
How Does "Third-Country Deportation" Work?
Normally, if the U.S. deports someone, they go back to their home country. But sometimes:
- The home country refuses to take them back (like Cuba often does).
- A judge says it’s unsafe to send them home (like with Gebrgzabher and Eritrea).
- The U.S. makes a deal with a third country—a totally different nation—to accept the person instead.
The U.S. Has Deals With Over 30 Countries for This
Many are in Africa. Some have:
- Ongoing wars
- Authoritarian governments
- Serious human rights abuses
The people sent there: Often have no connection to the country. They don’t speak the language. They have no legal status there. They are effectively stateless.
Step-by-Step: How This Happened to These Men
- They built lives in the U.S. — worked, started families, followed check-in rules.
- They had legal protections — Moreno had parole; Gebrgzabher had a court order blocking return to Eritrea.
- The administration targeted them — as part of a large-scale crackdown on immigration.
- They were arrested — Moreno in May 2024; Gebrgzabher during a routine ICE appointment.
- They were held in detention — for months, without a clear explanation of where they’d go.
- They were put on a plane — to Bangui, CAR’s capital.
- They arrived with no warning — Moreno said he only learned the destination after landing.
- Now they’re stuck — in a building in Bangui, no documents, no way to leave, no idea what happens next.
Why Is This Controversial?
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| No due process | Neither man was told in advance or given a chance to fight the third-country transfer. |
| Family separation | Gebrgzabher’s U.S. citizen son asks daily, "Where is my daddy?" |
| Safety risk | CAR is a war zone. The U.S. warns its own citizens not to go. |
| Legal gray zone | Protections like "Convention Against Torture" block return to home country—but don’t explicitly block third-country transfers. |
| No transparency | The U.S. hasn’t explained what CAR gets in return for accepting deportees. |
What Do the Men Say?
"We cannot leave, we don’t have documents and we’re suffering and missing our families, in a continent we don’t know."
— Yasmany Moreno de Armas"My son. He asked like every day to my wife, ‘(where) is my daddy?’"
— Zena Gebrgzabher"If you’re going to be deported, it should be to your home country, not to another country where you don’t know the culture."
— Yasmany Moreno de Armas
Summary
- The Trump administration deported immigrants from Cuba, Eritrea, and other countries to the Central African Republic—a dangerous, impoverished nation they had never heard of.
- Two men interviewed by CBS News—Moreno de Armas and Gebrgzabher—had lived in the U.S. for years, had no serious crimes, and one had a U.S. citizen wife and child.
- Both had legal protections preventing return to their home countries, but those protections didn’t stop third-country deportation.
- They are now stranded in Bangui with no documents, no language, no family, and no way out.
- The U.S. has similar deals with 30+ countries, many with poor human rights records.
- Critics call this inhumane, legally questionable, and a violation of basic due process.
FAQ
1. Is it legal for the U.S. to deport someone to a country they’re not from?
Technically, yes—if that country agrees to accept them. But legal experts argue it violates the spirit of protections like the Convention Against Torture, which are meant to keep people safe, not just shift the danger elsewhere.
2. Why doesn’t Cuba take its citizens back?
Cuba often refuses or delays accepting deportees from the U.S. This has been a long-standing issue between the two governments.
3. Can these men apply for asylum in the Central African Republic?
In theory, maybe. But CAR has almost no functioning asylum system, ongoing war, and they have no legal status or documents to even start the process.
4. What is the "Convention Against Torture" protection?
It’s an international treaty. If a judge decides you’d likely be tortured in your home country, the U.S. can’t send you there. But it doesn’t automatically protect you from being sent to a third country.
5. Has the U.S. government explained why it chose CAR?
Not publicly. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to CBS News’ questions about the agreement with CAR or what the U.S. provides in return.
This article is based on reporting by CBS News. Names, dates, and legal details are preserved from the original investigation.