A judge in the United States has issued a ruling instructing the Trump administration to assist in bringing back an Egyptian man who was deported to Equatorial Guinea and is currently imprisoned there. Ahmed Soliman is among many migrants who were sent from the U.S. to African nations through third-country deportation agreements to expedite the deportation process.
Recently, Soliman reported mistreatment by Equatorial Guinean police officers, with video evidence showing police officers brandishing firearms at a group of migrants, including Soliman, at Hotel Bamy in Malabo. Following the news coverage, Soliman was detained and has been held incommunicado at a police station known for detaining human rights activists.
According to the judge’s order revealed by Reuters, the Department of Homeland Security has been directed to facilitate Soliman’s release and return to the U.S., including organizing any necessary travel documents. However, neither the Department of Homeland Security nor Equatorial Guinea has responded to requests for comments on Soliman’s situation.
Soliman, aged 31, expressed concerns about being persecuted in Egypt due to his sexual orientation. Court records indicate that he arrived in the U.S. at a young age with his family on a religious visa. His legal standing as a permanent resident was jeopardized in 2021 after being involved in a fentanyl-related incident, leading to a prison sentence of over two years.
Despite deportation proceedings initiated by DHS in 2024, Soliman’s appeals regarding fears of persecution were not addressed before his deportation in April. Human Rights Watch documented cases of over 500 individuals being deported to African countries, with some facing challenges related to LGBTQ rights.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen criticized a substantial payment made to Equatorial Guinea for migration and refugee assistance, questioning the transparency and responsible use of taxpayer funds. The practice of deporting individuals to third countries has drawn criticism from Democrats and human rights advocates, leading to calls for a reevaluation of such deportation policies.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to review the Trump administration’s deportation policy in December, following a temporary hold on a federal judge’s ruling against deportations to third countries. Concerns have been raised about the treatment of migrants sent to countries where they lack connections, potentially exposing them to further harm based on their gender, sexual orientation, or human rights activities.
