West African nationals deported by the United States to Ghana under President Donald Trump’s program are now stranded and in hiding in Togo after being forcibly transferred there without documentation.
- The Loophole: The US deported the individuals to Ghana as a “loophole” to bypass protections they had secured in US immigration courts, which had prevented their removal to their home countries due to fear of persecution (e.g., political risks, criminalization of same-sex relations).
- Deportee Status: Many of the individuals were green card holders or had been granted asylum in the US, and some are married to US citizens.
- Mistreatment and Transfer: Deportees reported being beaten by ICE agents in the US and subsequently detained for over two weeks under military guard in Ghana’s Dema Camp, where they endured harsh conditions.
- Dumped in Togo: Between eight to ten nationals were then driven by the Ghanaian military to the Aflao border crossing near Lomé, Togo. With the cooperation of Togolese border officials, they were taken “through the back door” of the facility and abandoned on the street in Togo without their passports or ID.
- Current Predicament: Now in Togo, they are in hiding and relying on money from family in the US, fearing persecution and arrest due to their lack of legal documents.
