Trump administration deports South American woman to Congo despite CAT protection
Apr 18, 2026·Location: Louisiana, LA
DeportationThird Country DeportationHabeas PetitionCourt Order ViolationCAT/Withholding of RemovalLouisiana

A 23-year-old South American woman was deported to the Democratic Republic of Congo after being detained in Louisiana for 15 months by ICE. An immigration judge had previously granted her protection from removal to her home country after she claimed persecution based on her LGBTQ+ status. Despite a federal magistrate judge's recommendation for her release in a lawsuit filed in December, she was deported before a district judge could approve the recommendation as part of a third-country deportation agreement.
Sources
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