A United States judge has mandated the Trump administration to assist in the repatriation of an Egyptian individual who was deported to Equatorial Guinea earlier this year and subsequently detained there.
Ahmed Soliman is among numerous migrants relocated from the U.S. to African nations through third-country deportation agreements, which the U.S. government has utilized to expedite deportations.
Recently, Soliman reported mistreatment by Equatorial Guinean police officers. Video footage revealed officers brandishing firearms at a group of migrants, including Soliman, at Hotel Bamy in Malabo, where they were being held.
Following the publication of the Reuters article, Soliman was apprehended and has been detained without communication at a police station also used for detaining human rights activists.
In a document disclosed to Reuters, U.S. Judge John C. Hinderaker ordered the Department of Homeland Security to secure Soliman’s release and return to the U.S., arranging any necessary travel documentation.
The Department of Homeland Security and Equatorial Guinea have not responded to requests for comments on Soliman’s situation. DHS stated it was not accountable for the treatment of individuals outside the U.S. and asserted receiving assurances from Equatorial Guinea regarding the safety of deportees.
Soliman, aged 31, expressed fears of persecution in Egypt due to his sexual orientation. Court records indicate he entered the U.S. as a child on a religious visa and later jeopardized his lawful permanent resident status by committing a criminal offense.
In the process of deportation proceedings initiated by DHS in 2024, Soliman’s appeal for a hearing regarding his persecution fears was not contested. He was deported before the hearing or his challenge to Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention were addressed.
Human Rights Watch disclosed that from January 2025 to August 2026, 536 individuals were deported to African countries where they were not citizens or habitual residents.
Reuters identified 40 cases where migrants with LGBTQ status protections in the U.S. were deported to African countries with anti-LGBTQ laws or hostile environments towards LGBTQ individuals.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen criticized a $7.5-million payment to Equatorial Guinea for migration purposes, citing concerns over transparency and responsible use of taxpayer funds.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to review the Trump administration’s policy of deporting migrants to countries other than their own. The court has temporarily upheld the policy, awaiting arguments in December.
Human rights activists have reported over 25,000 deportations to 29 countries since last year, urging cessation of the third-country deportation practice to prevent further harm to vulnerable migrants.