Cuban man sent to Central African Republic despite approved family petition

Erick González lives in a shared space in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. He shares this area with approximately 32 other people. Most of them are from Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras. In a video shared online, González describes his daily reality. He says he has no legal documents. The conditions are poor. There are limited resources. He also reports a shortage of medicine.

González was sent to Africa by U.S. immigration authorities. His removal separated him from his wife, Isabel Estua, who is a U.S. citizen. They have a son who is three years old. Estua holds an approved family petition for her husband. This document was filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS. She argues that this approval should have protected him from removal. However, she states that his deportation order prevents him from regularizing his status now.

González entered the United States under the Migrant Protection Protocols, a policy often called Remain in Mexico. He was required to wait in Mexico for an immigration court date. He crossed the U.S. border and missed his scheduled hearing. A judge then issued a deportation order against him. He acknowledges that this failure to appear led to the ruling.

Rosaly Chaviano, an immigration attorney not involved in the case, explains the legal mechanics. She notes that an approved or pending family petition does not stop a deportation if an order exists. The petition may serve as a future legal strategy, but it offers no immediate protection against removal. USCIS retains jurisdiction to adjudicate the residence request. Meanwhile, the government keeps the authority to execute the deportation order.

This case fits within a wider administrative push to deport migrants to third countries. The Trump administration has established cooperation agreements with roughly 35 nations. Data from the Migration Policy Institute confirms the scale of these deals. The policy aims to process removals outside the United States.

González is currently seeking a legal path back to the U.S. He fears for his safety in Africa. He has requested a credible fear assessment. This evaluation could determine if his situation warrants a review of his status. Chaviano mentions that a foreign waiver of immigration is a possible option. This would involve continuing the process through consular channels. She warns that each case requires individual analysis.

Migrants in similar situations might eventually move to a country outside of Africa. A major obstacle is the lack of identification documents. Chaviano identifies this as a primary barrier. The U.S. must send the documents to Africa so the individuals can obtain them and begin the necessary paperwork.

The family remains separated while they search for legal alternatives. Estua says she maintains hope for their reunion. She describes hope as the last thing they lose. The Department of Homeland Security was asked about González and the circumstances of his removal. As of the publication date, the agency had not provided a response.