Ayana, a woman deported from the United States to Cameroon after living most of her life legally in the U.S., now faces significant uncertainty in a country unfamiliar to her and far from her family. Born in a Sudanese refugee camp and relocated to the U.S. at age two, Ayana is one of hundreds of individuals sent to African countries over the past 18 months through a controversial U.S. immigration policy under former President Donald Trump. This policy involves deporting people to "third countries" when they cannot be returned to their home nations.
Cameroon has joined a growing list of African countries that have agreed to accept U.S. deportees, alongside nations such as Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, and Liberia. Since January, approximately 50 deportees from countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Angola, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and Morocco have arrived in Cameroon. Some among them identify as LGBTQ, despite homosexuality being criminalized in Cameroon, though local authorities have not publicly commented on their presence.
Ayana recounts being apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while attempting to renew her residence permit and being shackled on the flight to Cameroon. She describes the experience as humiliating, with her rights violated throughout the process. With Eritrean and Ethiopian parents displaced by conflict, Ayana considers herself stateless—unable to return to Sudan, Ethiopia, or Eritrea due to lack of documentation and ongoing violence in those countries.
Other deportees share similarly dire circumstances. Peter, a 51-year-old Kenyan and longtime U.S. resident with a son in the U.S. Navy, only learned of his destination during the flight. Anthony, a Zimbabwean deported last year after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, spends his free time reading the Bible amid challenging conditions. All interviewed described being forcibly removed with only their clothes, having phones and passports confiscated, and facing poor living conditions in Cameroon with minimal medical and psychological support. Malaria and other illnesses are common; Peter was hospitalized for respiratory issues.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) offers a return program to deportees, but many feel pressured and unwelcome in Cameroon, where they struggle to establish a new life. Ayana said she believes financial incentives prompted Cameroon to accept deportees and that authorities discourage their stay. Some have already been forcibly returned to their home countries, where risks of mistreatment are high. Two Moroccan women deported as lesbians reportedly live in hiding.
Cameroonian lawyer Fru Joseph Awah has challenged forced returns in court, citing violations of international law. Meanwhile, deportees like Anthony and Peter have sought refugee status through interviews with the United Nations refugee agency, though Cameroon retains discretion over their acceptance. Many remain in limbo, with some awaiting interviews scheduled for months ahead.
Ayana expressed a deep sense of hopelessness amid the uncertainty but holds onto the possibility that changes in U.S. policy could allow her to return to the country she considers home.