DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — In Morocco, being gay is illegal and can lead to imprisonment for up to three years. This harsh reality forced Farah, a 21-year-old gay woman, to escape her homeland after facing extreme violence from her family due to her sexual orientation. Despite a perilous journey that culminated in her seeking asylum in the United States, Farah finds herself back in Morocco, living in hiding and under constant fear.
Farah’s ordeal began when her family discovered her relationship with her partner. She experienced severe physical abuse, was kicked out of her home, and subsequently fled with her partner. Unfortunately, their situation worsened when her family attempted to kill her, prompting her to seek refuge elsewhere. With the help of a friend, Farah was able to obtain visas for Brazil, with the aim of eventually reaching the U.S.
After traveling for weeks through six countries, they arrived at the U.S. border in early 2025, hopeful for freedom and safety. However, instead of liberation, Farah was detained for nearly a year in immigration facilities located in Arizona and Louisiana. Describing her experience in detention, she noted the inadequate medical care and the extreme cold, stating, "It was very cold… And we only had very thin blankets."
Despite receiving a protection order from a U.S. immigration judge in August, which stated that returning Farah to Morocco would jeopardize her life, she was unexpectedly deported to Cameroon, a country where homosexuality is also illegal. This deportation occurred despite her three days away from a critical hearing regarding her release.
Upon arriving in Cameroon, Farah was placed in a detention facility, where she reported being confronted with the reality that she couldn’t remain in a country that posed a danger to her life. Subsequently, she was returned to Morocco. Farah’s situation is part of a larger pattern involving numerous individuals deported from the U.S. to third countries under the Trump administration, many of whom similarly had legal protection orders from immigration judges.
The administration had utilized third-country deportations as a tactic to pressure migrants to leave the U.S. voluntarily, often disregarding legal protections and due process. According to lawyer Joseph Awah Fru, most of the deportees held in the Yaoundé facility, including Farah, had valid protection orders, raising questions about the legality of the U.S. actions.
Alma David, an immigration lawyer, highlighted that the U.S. government’s actions not only violated the due process rights of the deportees but also the obligations outlined in international treaties and their own immigration laws. While the Department of Homeland Security defended its actions, stating they are adhering to the law, the implications for individuals like Farah paint a troubling picture of the U.S. immigration system.
In total, over 300 migrants have faced deportation under such circumstances, with various African nations receiving deported individuals in exchange for financial agreements. The involvement of humanitarian organizations, such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), emphasizes the complex decisions deportees are forced to make, often lacking adequate support or information about their rights.
Farah’s return to Morocco marks a painful separation from any glimmer of hope she had for a new beginning in the U.S. She expressed her sorrow over being labeled a threat, stating, "The USA is built on immigration and by immigrant labor, so we’re clearly not all threats." Her experience reflects the broader systemic issues within U.S. immigration practices, particularly concerning the treatment of vulnerable populations seeking safety and acceptance.
