Deported by US, Trapped in Africa: “We Cannot Leave”
The Long Journey to Nowhere: Two Men Deported to a Country They Never Knew
What Happened?
Imagine being picked up from your home, put on a plane, and dropped off in a country you have never heard of, where you don’t speak the language, have no friends, and cannot leave. That is exactly what happened to two men—Yasmany Moreno de Armas and Zena Gebrgzabher—last summer.
The U.S. government deported them from their lives in America to the Central African Republic (CAR), one of the poorest and most dangerous nations on Earth. Neither man had committed a serious crime. Both had families waiting for them in the United States.
Who Are the Men?
Yasmany Moreno de Armas (31, from Cuba)
- Life in the U.S.: Arrived in Florida by boat in 2016. He was allowed to stay under a special policy for Cubans called "Wet Foot, Dry Foot." He worked, built a life, and applied for a green card.
- The Problem: His green card application was denied on a technicality (he filed it too late). He lost his legal status.
- Arrest & Deportation: Arrested by immigration officers (ICE) in May 2024. Held in detention for over a year. Put on a plane to Africa in July 2024—without warning.
Zena Gebrgzabher (39, from Eritrea)
- Life in the U.S.: Fled forced military service in Eritrea. Asked for protection at the U.S. border. In 2017, a judge ruled he could not be sent back to Eritrea because he would face torture (protection under the Convention Against Torture).
- Family: Married to a U.S. citizen. Father of a 5-year-old U.S. citizen son, Nathan. Lived in Maryland. Worked as a truck driver. Checked in with ICE regularly for years with no issues.
- Arrest & Deportation: Arrested during a routine ICE check-in appointment in 2024. Deported to CAR shortly after—despite the judge’s order protecting him from return to Eritrea.
IMPORTANT POINT
Neither man had a serious criminal record. Their only "crimes" were immigration violations (like entering without a visa or missing a filing deadline) and minor traffic tickets.
What Is the Central African Republic (CAR)?
The Central African Republic is a landlocked country in the heart of Africa. Here is what makes it unique—and why the U.S. State Department warns Americans not to go there (Level 4 "Do Not Travel" Advisory):
- Extreme Poverty: One of the poorest countries in the world.
- Active Armed Conflict: Rebel groups, government forces, and Russian mercenaries (Wagner Group) fight for control.
- No Rule of Law: Kidnappings, violence, and lawlessness are common.
- No Support System: The deportees were left in a building in the capital, Bangui, with no legal status, no work permits, no money, and no way to leave.
Think of it like this: The U.S. government dropped these men into a war zone with no passport, no money, and no ticket home.
What Is "Third-Country Deportation"?
Usually, if the U.S. deports someone, they send them back to their home country. But sometimes, the home country refuses to take them back (like Cuba often does) or a court orders the U.S. not to send them there (because of torture risks, like with Eritrea).
So the U.S. makes deals with other countries to take these people instead. These are called "third-country deportation agreements."
How It Works (Step-by-Step)
- Person cannot be sent home (Country A refuses them, or a judge blocks it).
- U.S. finds Country B (a "third country") willing to accept deportees—often for money or political favors.
- Person is flown to Country B, even if they have zero connection to it (no language, no family, no culture).
- Person is stranded—usually with no legal right to stay, work, or leave Country B.
IMPORTANT POINT
The U.S. has these deals with over 30 countries. Many are in Africa and struggle with war, dictatorship, or human rights abuses.
How Did This Happen to Yasmany and Zena?
Yasmany’s Path (The "Technicality" Trap)
- Fled Cuba (was jailed for trying to leave before).
- Arrived in U.S. (2016) → Got "Parole" (temporary permission to stay) under Wet Foot, Dry Foot policy.
- Applied for Green Card under Cuban Adjustment Act (a Cold War law helping Cubans).
- Denied → Judge said he filed one day too late after his parole expired.
- Became Undocumented → No legal status, but no criminal record.
- Arrested by ICE (May 2024) → Detained over a year.
- Deported to CAR (July 2024) → Never told he was going to Africa.
Zena’s Path (The "Legal Loophole" Trap)
- Fled Eritrea (forced conscription, jailed for overstaying leave).
- Asked for Asylum at U.S. Border.
- Judge Denied Asylum → Reason: He was a checkpoint guard at 18 (forced). Judge said this "impeded escape of political prisoners," even though he never hurt anyone.
- Judge Granted CAT Protection → Cannot be sent to Eritrea (torture risk).
- Lived Legally in U.S. for Years → Work permit, check-ins, family, U.S. citizen son.
- Arrested at ICE Check-in (2024) → Handcuffed in front of family.
- Deported to CAR → CAT protection only blocks return to Eritrea, not any third country.
Why Is This So Controversial?
| Issue | What It Means |
|---|---|
| No Due Process | Neither man got a hearing before being sent to a third country. They couldn’t argue "I’ll die there" or "I have a family in the U.S." |
| Family Separation | Zena’s U.S. citizen wife and 5-year-old son are in Maryland. He misses his son’s first years of school. Yasmany misses his family too. |
| Safety Risk | CAR is a Level 4 war zone. The men have no protection, no status, no way to earn money, and no embassy to help them. |
| Statelessness | They aren’t citizens of CAR. They can’t go home (Cuba/Eritrea). They can’t stay in CAR legally. They are nowhere people. |
| Broken Promises | Zena won his case in court. The judge said "You cannot go to Eritrea." The U.S. government found a workaround: Send him somewhere else just as bad. |
IMPORTANT POINT
Yasmany said it best: "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."
Summary
- Two ordinary men—a Cuban and an Eritrean—living quietly in the U.S. with families and jobs.
- Neither was a criminal. Both had complex immigration histories but no violent records.
- The Trump administration used "third-country deportation" deals to send them to the Central African Republic—a dangerous, impoverished war zone.
- They were given no warning, no hearing, and no choice.
- They are now trapped in a country where they don’t speak the language, have no legal rights, and cannot leave.
- This is happening to dozens of people from all over the world, sent to countries they have never seen.
FAQ
1. Is it legal for the U.S. to deport someone to a country they’re not from?
Yes, technically. U.S. immigration law allows the government to deport non-citizens to any country that agrees to accept them, if their home country won’t take them back. However, lawyers and human rights groups argue this violates international law and the spirit of U.S. treaty obligations (like the Convention Against Torture), especially when the third country is dangerous.
2. Why didn’t Zena’s court win protect him?
The judge’s order only blocked his return to Eritrea. It did not say "He can stay in the U.S. forever" or "He cannot be sent to a third country." The government used this gap to send him to CAR instead.
3. What is "Wet Foot, Dry Foot"?
It was a U.S. policy (ended in 2017) that said: If a Cuban migrant reached U.S. soil ("dry foot"), they could stay and apply for a green card. If caught at sea ("wet foot"), they were sent back. Yasmany arrived under this policy but missed a filing deadline later.
4. Can these men come back to the U.S.?
It is extremely difficult. They have no visas, no money for lawyers, and are in a country with almost no U.S. diplomatic presence. Their families in the U.S. are fighting for them, but the legal path is nearly non-existent right now.
5. Does the U.S. pay these countries to take deportees?
Often, yes. The details of the deal with CAR are secret (DHS didn’t answer CBS News questions), but typically the U.S. offers aid, visa sanctions relief, or cash to countries willing to accept third-country deportees.