A controversial US policy enabling the transfer of undocumented foreign nationals to third countries has sparked legal action in Yaoundé. Thirty-six African migrants expelled from the United States to Cameroon in early 2026 have filed a lawsuit seeking legal protection and the suspension of Washington’s migration agreement with Yaoundé, according to their legal representative, Me Joseph Fru Awah.

Legal battle against deportation framework

The lawsuit, lodged with the Yaoundé administrative court, demands the immediate suspension of the bilateral migration deal and legal recognition for the deportees, who currently lack valid identification documents or residency status. The legal team argues that Cameroon’s role as a transit point risks exposing the migrants to persecution or torture in their countries of origin.

“Cameroon cannot be used as a transit hub to send people back to danger,” stated Me Joseph Fru Awah in a statement. The deportees, originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Angola, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and Morocco, had previously secured US court protection against deportation to their homelands before being transferred to Cameroon between January and May 2026.

Living conditions under scrutiny

Since their arrival in Yaoundé, the group has been held in a facility managed by Cameroonian authorities in coordination with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). They remain de facto stateless, denied legal documentation and subjected to movement restrictions, according to their lawyer.

US policy and diplomatic pressure

The Biden-Trump administration contends that while deportees cannot be returned to their countries of origin, transferring them to third nations remains permissible. Reports indicate Washington has offered financial incentives—amounting to millions of dollars—and threatened visa restrictions to persuade African governments, including Cameroon, to accept deportees.

Countries accepting US deportees include

• Central African Republic
• Equatorial Guinea
• Ghana
• Rwanda
• South Sudan
• Eswatini
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Sierra Leone