Afghan with family ties to US forces sent to Central African Republic
An Afghan man who had been granted protection from deportation was among dozens sent to the Central African Republic on a US flight. His family had worked with US forces and faced Taliban threats. Advocacy groups confirmed the deportation, which was the third such flight this year.
The deportee, in his early twenties, had received a US judge's protection order based on credible fears of Taliban persecution. His brothers' service alongside American forces—one in the Afghan National Army, another as a US-trained pilot later killed by the Taliban—made his family targets for reprisals.
The Saturday flight to Bangui carried 12 Afghans, 8 Iranians, and citizens of Nepal and Nicaragua. This marks the third such deportation to the Central African Republic this year, a country the State Department advises against visiting entirely due to unrest, crime, and terrorism risks.
This case could raise concerns about the treatment of individuals who aided US operations, potentially affecting trust in American commitments to allies. The use of third countries where deportees have no connections may create vulnerable populations in unstable regions. Communities in the Central African Republic could face additional strain, while Afghan families may reconsider cooperation with US forces in future conflicts.