The Trump administration secretly deported nine individuals to Cameroon on January 14, despite many having U.S. court protections against removal and none being citizens of the African nation, according to a report by the New York Times.
The men and women were flown from Alexandria, Louisiana, and some reportedly did not know their destination until they were placed in handcuffs and chains on a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) aircraft, the report said, citing government documents and attorneys representing the deportees.
DHS, the U.S. State Department, and Cameroon’s Ministry of External Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Attorneys for the detainees were also not immediately reachable.
There has been no public announcement of any agreement between the U.S. and Cameroon to accept deportees from other countries, raising questions about the legality and coordination of the operation.
The secret deportation has drawn scrutiny amid broader concerns over U.S. immigration enforcement practices and adherence to judicial protections for detainees.
