Fleeing Persecution in Iran, an Activist Finds Herself Deported by the US to the Central African Republic

A young Iranian activist who was deported from the US to Bangui, in the Central African Republic, is facing a terrifying reality. Mick Krever and CNN reported on the situation in Bangui, where Nika—using a pseudonym out of fear for her and her family's safety—thought she had finally found safety. She initially described her joy at reaching what she believed was one of the best countries in the world, but her happiness quickly faded.

Nika is part of an increasing number of migrants being deported by the Trump administration to unfamiliar nations that can hardly be considered safe havens. Because judges have blocked the US government from returning certain migrants to their home countries, officials have established arrangements with third countries to house individuals like Nika.

Telling her story for the first time, Nika explained that she spent much of her youth protesting against the Iranian regime. "I lost too much of my friends. They [the Islamic Republic] killed them. And some of them are still in prison," she said tearfully. "I know if I was in Iran, they’re going to kill me."

Her ordeal unfolds during a tumultuous period in US-Iran relations. Earlier this year, Iran experienced widespread anti-government protests, leading to a brutal regime crackdown that killed thousands. President Donald Trump encouraged protesters to take over institutions and promised help. On the last day of February, the US and Israel launched a war on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and attacking targets nationwide. Nika followed these events closely from the United States, hoping for an end to the regime and a chance to return home, but her fate had already been sealed.

After being detained at the border and spending months in ICE detention, Nika was briefly allowed to live freely in California. She received a Department of Homeland Security notice to attend what she thought was a routine meeting in June. Instead, according to documents reviewed by CNN, US authorities had already decided weeks earlier to deport her, and she was arrested upon arrival. Three days later, on the evening of June 11, she was handcuffed, shackled, and placed on a deportation flight with 17 other migrants, including individuals from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Georgia.

"This is one of the very hard days in my life," Nika said, recalling how her body shook with fear when she discovered her destination on the seat screen. Her current immigration lawyer, Sahar Jalili Pawelski, attempted desperately to intervene. "I remember when the flight took off, I just sat on the floor, called my mom and cried," Pawelski said.

Like many on the flight, Nika held a protection order from an American judge designed to prevent her return to places where she faced persecution, torture, or death. Although such orders historically protected migrants from deportation, the policy shifted under President Trump and his top anti-immigration advocate, deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, who stated that America's doors are fully closed to asylum seekers.

The Department of Homeland Security defended its actions to CNN, stating that those deported received due process and had final removal orders. Meanwhile, since arriving in Bangui over two months ago, Nika remains mostly confined to her room out of fear. When she goes out for essentials, she claims local police demand bribes and threaten arrest—allegations denied by the police. She also suffered from malaria during her stay. The US State Department advises against all travel to the country due to risks of crime, kidnapping, disease, and terrorism.

The reasons behind the Central African Republic's agreement to accept US deportees remain largely undisclosed, though the US recently provided $85 million to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) operations in the country and an additional $50 million to the Humanitarian Fund. A DHS spokesperson acknowledged that foreign assistance supports countries aiding US immigration priorities. As Nika awaits her fate, her lawyer is filing a federal lawsuit to return her to the US and reopen her asylum claim.