Fifteen migrants deported from US arrive in DRC following extended transit
The operation was conducted without prior public announcement, with accounts describing the journey as involving handcuffs and shackles.
Fifteen migrants originating from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru have arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo following a deportation order issued by the United States. The individuals were transported on a flight that lasted 27 hours, during which they were restrained in handcuffs and shackles.
The operation was conducted without prior public announcement, described by reports as a quiet deportation. This lack of public notice contrasts with standard procedural transparency, leaving the specific legal grounds or immigration statutes used to justify the removal of these 15 individuals unconfirmed in available reporting.
Accounts provided to AFP on Wednesday detail the conditions endured during the transit. The migrants stated they were handcuffed and shackled for the duration of the 27-hour journey before eventually reaching their destination in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These descriptions rely on the testimony of the individuals involved as reported by Emily Boyle.
The Democratic Republic of Congo serves as the destination country for this specific group of deportations. While the United States is the country of origin for the deportation action, the current status of the migrants upon arrival remains unspecified. It is unclear whether they are being held in detention, released, or transferred to another location following their landing.
The term quietly deported implies a lack of public announcement or procedural transparency regarding the event. This characterisation reflects the absence of an official government admission of secrecy at the time of the operation rather than a confirmed admission by US authorities.
Reports from France 24 International and AFP highlight the unusual nature of the transit, noting the specific origins of the group from three South American nations. The focus remains on the logistical execution of the removal and the conditions reported by the migrants during the extended flight.
