In a distressing turn of events, a group of 85 Cuban migrants were forcibly deported to Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, from Alexandria, Louisiana. The flight departed at dawn on Thursday, leaving the migrants uninformed about their final destination. This account was shared by one of the deportees.
Eric González Peña, a 44-year-old Cuban, described how these migrants were taken from detention centers, shackled hand and foot, and led onto the aircraft. They were not given the opportunity to contact their families or learn the identity of the country they were being sent to.
The group consisted of 80 women and five men, many of whom were apprehended during operations conducted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Once on board, tensions escalated as authorities announced that they would be flying to Africa, but did not specify which country. In a desperate attempt to prevent the takeoff, the migrants stood up collectively. However, their protest was in vain, and the plane took off regardless.
The harrowing journey lasted nearly 60 hours, leaving families in the United States without any information. Immigration authorities merely stated that their loved ones had been "removed" from the country, providing no further details on their location or circumstances.
The confusion upon landing was overwhelming, with some deportees questioning if they had arrived in Equatorial Guinea. It was Yasmany Noel Moreno de Armas, a Cuban sent to the same country in August, who informed them of their location. He also served as a liaison with their families through a live broadcast on TikTok that lasted much of the night.
González Peña's experience highlights the profile of those affected. He was detained by ICE in March 2026 while working in Texas, first relocated to El Paso and then to Louisiana without any explanation to his family.
His last communication with his wife, Isabel Estua, a U.S. citizen, was from an airport in Alexandria on Wednesday, October 21. Estua, also the mother of their infant, endured nearly 60 hours of uncertainty until González Peña called her from Bangui on Saturday.
Several deportees claimed to have no criminal records in the U.S., and some asserted that they had not signed deportation documents, though these claims have not been independently verified.
Upon arrival in Bangui, the new arrivals were administered vaccines for yellow fever, given antimalarial drugs, and provided with some clothing. Cuban deportees from previous months greeted them with internet access cards and bread with butter to facilitate communication with their families.
However, conditions in the Central African Republic's capital remain dire. Moreno had reported on October 17 that nearly all deportees exhibited malaria symptoms and that medical care was woefully lacking.
According to international health data, the Central African Republic recorded nearly two million malaria cases and over 2,000 deaths in 2023.
This flight is part of a broader deportation policy to third countries initiated by the Trump administration. Between June and August 2026, at least 92 individuals from various nationalities were sent to Bangui on three previous flights. From January 2025 to August 2026, ICE deported 536 individuals to twelve different African countries, according to Human Rights Watch.
Alexandria, Louisiana's airport has emerged as a primary departure point for these deportation flights. Senator Markwayne Mullin noted that up to six deportation flights can depart from this facility daily.
Another Cuban deportee, Arístides Fernández García, managed to leave the Central African Republic on October 19 with assistance from the International Organization for Migration, reaching Bolivia two days later. His case is one of the few documented instances of departure from the country.
This situation is part of a series of immigration operations affecting Cubans in the United States. Stay informed with the latest developments in our U.S. Immigration section.
FAQs on Cuban Deportations
Why were Cuban migrants sent to the Central African Republic?
The deportation is part of a broader policy of sending migrants to third countries, implemented by the Trump administration, without informing them of their final destination.
What challenges did the deported migrants face upon arrival?
Upon arrival, migrants faced challenging conditions, including inadequate medical care and widespread malaria. The local health system struggled to meet their needs.
How did families in the United States receive information about their loved ones?
Families were left in the dark during the migrants' journey, receiving vague information from authorities until the deportees managed to contact them after arrival in Bangui.