Outcry as US deportees to Congo allege coercion, abuse
A group of 15 migrants from Colombia, Peru and Ecuador deported from the United States of America (USA) to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has accused authorities of pressuring them to return to their home countries despite fears for their safety.
The migrants, who arrived in Kinshasa last week under a controversial third-country deportation arrangement, told reporters that they have been given no viable alternative but repatriation.
Several said they had fled persecution and could face serious harm if forced to return.
“We feel pressured to agree to go back to our country, regardless of the risks,” said a 29-year-old Colombian woman who requested anonymity, citing fear of reprisals.
The deportations are part of stricter immigration enforcement measures introduced under US President Donald Trump, whose administration has expanded removals of migrants, including some who were seeking asylum or had legal protections.
One Colombian woman told US authorities she had escaped kidnapping, torture by an armed group and abuse by an ex-husband who was a police officer.
The flights reportedly transited through Dakar and Accra before landing in Kinshasa, where the migrants are being housed in a hotel under the supervision of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Some migrants also reported illness, lack of comprehensive medical screening and difficulties communicating due to language barriers, as none speak French.
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has called for the immediate return of his citizens, condemning the deportations. “This is what you call ostracism,” he said, adding that officials had been instructed to bring the Colombians back “immediately and without chains.”
