The US administration has started working to facilitate the return of an Egyptian man, Ahmed Soliman, who was deported to Equatorial Guinea in a rare case of reversing a third-country deportation. Soliman, a gay man, had been granted an order by a US immigration judge to prevent his deportation to Egypt, where he could face persecution due to his sexuality. However, he was deported to Equatorial Guinea, a country in central Africa with limited freedoms, according to Freedom House.
A federal judge in Arizona, John Hinderaker, ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to return Soliman to the US, citing a violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The judge noted that Soliman had been held under armed guard, threatened at gunpoint, and arrested, beaten, and held incommunicado by Equatorial Guinean authorities. DHS has stated that it will comply with the court order and facilitate Soliman's return.
Soliman's lawyers, including Dana Camilleri, are working to secure his release and return to the US. Camilleri expressed hope that this case could set a precedent for another client, a gay Brazilian man, who is also being held in Equatorial Guinea. Soliman had emigrated to the US from Egypt as a child and grew up in Arizona, becoming a green card holder.
Soliman lost his immigration status after being sentenced to prison for drug possession and aggravated assault in 2023. An immigration judge had ruled that he could not be deported to Egypt, where he would likely face torture. The US administration's deportation of Soliman to Equatorial Guinea has raised concerns about violating international law.
The American Immigration Council's senior fellow, Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, stated that the US could be in violation of international law due to the harm Soliman allegedly suffered in Equatorial Guinea. The council advocates for a fair process for immigrants in the US, citing the UN convention against torture and domestic law.
The Trump administration has made deals with over 30 countries to deport migrants to places where they have no ties or connections as part of its immigration crackdown. However, Judge Hinderaker's order marks the second time a judge has forced the government to return a third-country migrant from an African nation.
The US ambassador to Equatorial Guinea's office did not respond to a request for comment on Soliman's case. Soliman's return is expected to be facilitated through diplomatic efforts in Equatorial Guinea, with his lawyers and the US administration working collaboratively to secure his release and return to the US.
Key points
- US administration working to reverse deportation of Ahmed Soliman to Equatorial Guinea
- Soliman faced persecution in Equatorial Guinea after being deported
- Case may set precedent for other third-country deportation cases
