Full Breakdown
Transgender Cuban Migrant Deported to Central African Republic Under U.S. “Third-Country” Policy
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On August 29 2026, Daniela Fuentes, a 32-year-old transgender woman from Cuba, was placed on an ICE flight and deported to the Central African Republic (CAR). In Bangui she was housed in a government-run apartment for male deportees, sharing a room with four Cuban men. Fuentes says she must conceal her gender—wearing male clothing, lowering her voice, and hiding her wig—to avoid harassment and police trouble.
Background & Context
The United States’ “third-country” framework sends undocumented migrants to nations other than their origin. At least twelve African states have signed agreements to receive such removals. A recent Supreme Court decision allowed these bilateral arrangements to remain in effect temporarily. An executive order in early 2025 directed ICE to place transgender women in male detention facilities, shaping Fuentes’s treatment. Cuba’s economic crisis and crackdown on dissent prompted her departure in 2023.
Data & Statistics
- Third Country Deportation Watch estimates the United States has deported roughly 25,000 individuals to more than two dozen third-country destinations.
- More than 500 people were sent to African nations between January 2025 and August 2026, according to Human Rights Watch.
- Among those deported to Africa, at least 12 identify as LGBTQ and face criminalization of same-sex relations.
Official Statements & Responses
U.S. officials say the agreements are lawful and partner governments have pledged protection. A CAR Foreign Ministry officer, speaking anonymously, said deportees are “in good hands” and monitored by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The U.S. has allocated $85 million this year to IOM for operations in the CAR, including “assistance to migrants” and “community stabilization.” IOM notes migrants can apply for asylum, request assistance to return home, or seek travel to another authorized destination. No U.S. immigration officials responded to comment requests.
Criticism & Opposition
“These are not bureaucratic errors or isolated incidents,” — Bridget Crawford.
Michael Garcia Bochenek of Human Rights Watch warns that several African governments “are not only complicit in U.S. abuses but have violated the human rights of these deported people themselves.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Fuentes describes daily life in the Bangui compound as restrictive. She lacks identification, cannot work, and relies on IOM food aid and donations for groceries. Local officials warn that leaving the compound without papers could lead to police complications. The Cuban men in her room are aware of her gender identity and look out for her, but she feels unsafe venturing outside.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The U.S. has not released detailed numbers or a full list of countries involved in third-country deportations. ICE declined to answer emailed inquiries about Fuentes’s case. While the CAR foreign ministry claims deportees are monitored, independent verification of their treatment remains limited.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Everything is difficult here because I have to hide who I am,” — Daniela Fuentes
- “My whole life, my whole identity, was taken away from me,” — Daniela Fuentes
- “When I learned that they were going to put me with men, I almost fainted,” — Daniela Fuentes
What’s Next
Fuentes says Cuba has agreed to accept her return, but she hopes to seek asylum elsewhere, possibly in Canada. She remains in the Bangui compound awaiting travel documents that would allow her to leave the country.