U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported a gay asylum-seeker to a third country where homosexuality is a crime. The investigation revealed an “opaque arrangement” where migrants were sent to countries like Cameroon and Morocco despite protection orders from immigration judges designed to prevent their return to danger. A rare firsthand account from a Moroccan woman highlighted the life-threatening risks of this policy, describing her fear after being transferred to a nation where her identity is criminalized. Human rights advocates and lawyers warn that these third-country deportations exploit legal gray areas, effectively bypassing international protections for LGBTQ+ individuals fleeing persecution.
Date: February 22, 2026. Source: apnews.com