Approximately a dozen detained immigrants suffering from serious medical conditions have been informed they face imminent deportation to unspecified African countries, raising concerns about their ability to access necessary healthcare. These detainees are currently held in a unit at the Krome detention center in Florida, where they were informed by immigration officers over the weekend about their upcoming transfers.
According to the Workers Circle, a social justice organization representing the detainees, the individuals have pending court petitions challenging their detention, but advocates argue that this legal process has not halted the government’s plans. Many of the detainees are seriously ill, with some previously denied deportation to Mexico due to their medical conditions.
Noelle Damico, director of social justice at the Workers Circle, stated that Krome has a documented history of medical neglect, a finding supported by a report from a federal inspector general which indicated detainees were not receiving adequate medical care.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responded to these allegations, asserting that “no sick detainees are being deported” and that all individuals slated for deportation are medically cleared to travel and provided with necessary medications.
Concerns Over Third-Country Deportations
The practice of deporting immigrants to third countries has increased under the Trump administration, with nearly 28,000 individuals deported to over 50 nations, including more than 500 to Africa from early 2023 to August 2023, according to an analysis by Human Rights Watch. Critics argue this approach serves as a tactic of intimidation against immigrants.
A DHS spokesperson characterized third-country removals as an essential public safety measure, claiming that deportees are notified prior to removal and diplomatic assurances are obtained from receiving countries to ensure their safety. However, immigration advocates have raised concerns that many deportees, especially those with medical needs, face dire circumstances upon arrival.
Among the detainees is Noslén Sendra González, a Cuban immigrant reliant on insulin for his diabetes. His wife, Anisley Cortés, expressed confusion and despair over the release process for Sendra González, especially as both Cuba and Mexico have refused to accept him. She fears that his deportation to Africa could lead to his death, saying, “I’m so afraid he’ll end up in Africa, and that he’ll die there.”
Two flights are expected to depart for Africa this week, potentially headed for the Central African Republic and Burundi. Immigration attorney Shalyn Fluharty described the deportation process as distressing, with detainees often shackled and subjected to long travel times. The U.S. State Department advises against travel to these countries due to significant security concerns and limited healthcare resources.
Fluharty questioned the validity of clearing individuals with serious health conditions for such flights, noting that the destination countries may lack the necessary medical infrastructure to support deportees’ needs. She also highlighted the non-transparent nature of the agreements between the U.S. and receiving countries, raising concerns about the treatment awaited upon arrival.
The situation is complicated by ongoing legal challenges against the administration’s deportation practices, which the Supreme Court is currently reviewing. The outcomes of these legal proceedings and the fate of the affected detainees remain uncertain.
