Yasmany Moreno de Armas, a 31-year-old Cuban who had been living and working in Florida, claims he has no criminal history. He discovered his deportation to Africa only after a five-hour flight when the plane was landing in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR).
"We can't leave, we have no documents. We're suffering and missing our families in a continent we don't know," Moreno de Armas told CBS News during a video call. He has been held for nearly a month in a building with deportees from Ecuador, Honduras, Nepal, Russia, Vietnam, and other countries, none of whom have any connection to CAR.
When asked by a journalist if he had heard of the Central African Republic before being deported, he replied with one word: "Never."
U.S. Deportation Policy to Third Countries
The Trump administration sent Moreno de Armas to CAR in late July as part of its policy of deportations to third countries. This mechanism was designed to send migrants back whose home countries—like Cuba—either refuse or restrict direct repatriation flights from the United States.
His immigration history, accessed by CBS News, reveals why he was sent to a third country instead of being returned to Cuba. He arrived in Florida by raft in September 2016 and was admitted under the now-defunct "Wet Foot, Dry Foot" policy. He applied for permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act, but his request was denied as it was submitted after his parole expired.
Without legal status, he was arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in May 2025 and spent about a year in custody before being deported to Africa.
Risks of Returning to Cuba
Moreno de Armas expressed that returning to Cuba would be dangerous for him. Cuban government documents verify that he was jailed on the island for "illegal exit from national territory" during his initial attempt to emigrate.
"If you're going to be deported, it should be to your country of origin, not somewhere you know nothing about," he argued.
Conditions in the Central African Republic
The CAR ranks among the world's poorest and most dangerous nations, with ongoing armed conflict and the presence of Russian mercenaries. In January, the State Department issued a Level 4 travel advisory for the region, the highest level, advising against travel due to widespread insecurity.
Moreno de Armas's situation is not isolated; other Cubans have recently been sent to African countries. Carlos Rodríguez López, deported under the U.S.-Liberia agreement, ended up stranded in a hotel in Equatorial Guinea without documents after being denied entry in Monrovia. Meanwhile, the mother of Leonardo Sánchez Fernández, 49, reported that her son was hospitalized in Equatorial Guinea after being pushed while disembarking the plane, worsening a pre-existing medical condition.
Legal Challenges to the Policy
This deportation policy was declared illegal in February 2026 by a federal judge in Massachusetts, who ruled that it fails to provide prior notification or an opportunity to contest the transfer. However, the ruling was temporarily suspended as litigation continues.
The U.S. has established agreements with at least 35 countries and deported more than 23,000 individuals to 26 nations under these arrangements. The agreement with the CAR, signed in May 2026, involved a payment of 85 million dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions about U.S. Deportations to Third Countries
Why was Yasmany Moreno de Armas deported to the Central African Republic?
Moreno de Armas was deported to the Central African Republic as part of a U.S. policy to send migrants to third countries when their home countries, like Cuba, refuse or limit direct repatriation.
What are the risks for Moreno de Armas if he returns to Cuba?
Returning to Cuba poses a risk for Moreno de Armas as he was previously jailed for illegally leaving the country, which could result in further imprisonment or persecution.
How has the U.S. deportation policy to third countries been challenged legally?
A federal judge in Massachusetts declared the policy illegal in February 2026, citing it does not provide prior notification or the chance to contest the transfer. However, the ruling is temporarily suspended pending further legal proceedings.