--- title: "U.S. Deports Transgender Woman to Central African Republic with Poor Human Rights Record" url: https://newscentral.site/u-s-deports-transgender-woman-to-central-african-republic-with-poor/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "World" published: 2026-10-08T06:02:27.000Z updated: 2026-10-08T08:27:16.195Z id: 86c1d371-9654-418b-ab2b-338cf6f9a51a source: "ABC News International https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/deported-central-african-republic-transgender-woman-lived-openly-137085711" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/u-s-deports-transgender-woman-to-central-african-republic-with-poor/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # U.S. Deports Transgender Woman to Central African Republic with Poor Human Rights Record A 32-year-old transgender woman from Cuba has been living in hiding in the Central African Republic after being deported from Miami. Daniela Fuentes, a 32-year-old transgender woman from Cuba, has been living in hiding in the Central African Republic after being deported from Miami as part of a U.S. immigration policy. She had previously lived openly in Miami, where she styled hair for clients and performed in drag at a nightclub called Azúcar. In public, Fuentes wore her blond wig and dressed as the woman she knew herself to be since adolescence in Cuba. However, now that she is thousands of miles away from home, she has been forced to adopt a more discreet lifestyle, wearing men's clothes and lowering her voice to avoid drawing attention to her breasts. Fuentes was one of several individuals deported to the Central African Republic on August 29 as part of U.S. efforts to send people to countries other than their own. The country is known for its poor human rights record, with advocacy groups reporting arbitrary detention, torture, and other abuses against sexual and gender minorities. The deportation has left Fuentes feeling isolated and uncertain about her future. "Everything is difficult here because I have to hide who I am," she said in an interview. She shares a room on the compound where she is living with four Cuban men who were also deported from the U.S. Fuentes struggles to adapt to life in the Central African Republic, which is one of the world's poorest countries and has a history of conflict. The U.S. State Department advises American travelers to avoid the country due to its high risk of violence and crime. The Central African Republic is one of at least 12 African nations that have signed agreements to accept "third-country" deportations, a policy that allows the U.S. to send individuals to countries other than their own. The U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed this policy to continue, at least temporarily, sparking concerns about the treatment of deported individuals like Fuentes. Fuentes has been forced to conceal her true identity in Central African Republic, a country where transgender individuals face significant marginalization and lack legal protections. In her apartment complex in Bangui, Fuentes only dons her wig in private, hiding it from view when she ventures out into the public area. This is a stark contrast to her life in Miami, where she was able to live openly as herself. The deportation process has been shrouded in secrecy, with public records providing little information on why Fuentes was ordered to leave the US. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have declined to comment on the matter. Fuentes' living situation is far from ideal, as she shares an apartment complex with other male deportees. She is aware that she can technically leave the compound but has been advised against it by authorities due to her lack of identification documents. Without proper ID, Fuentes and others in similar situations are unable to work or interact with law enforcement without risk of arrest. The International Organization for Migration has provided food assistance, while locals have also contributed through crowdsourced donations to help the migrants purchase groceries. The US has a history of deporting individuals to countries that may not be equipped to handle their specific needs. According to Third Country Deportation Watch, over 25,000 people have been sent to more than two dozen countries since records began. A recent Human Rights Watch report highlights the plight of LGBTQ+ individuals who have been deported to Africa, where many countries criminalize same-sex relations or public displays of affection. The report notes that at least 12 such individuals were deported between January 2025 and August 2026, although advocates believe the actual number may be higher. Fuentes' deportation highlights the consequences of U.S. policies aimed at immigrants fleeing persecution, according to advocates who argue these individuals are being deliberately abandoned by their own government. Critics contend that the policy of deporting LGBTQ+ migrants is not only morally reprehensible but also a predictable outcome of deliberate decisions made by policymakers. They point out that receiving countries often provide assurances that deportees will not face persecution or torture, which some see as insufficient given the risks faced by these individuals. Born in Cuba, Fuentes grew up in La Lisa, an outer neighborhood of Havana, where she struggled to understand her identity from a young age. As adolescence approached, she began living openly as a woman and started taking hormones at 18, marking the beginning of her journey towards self-acceptance. In addition to facing harassment due to her gender identity, Fuentes was attacked on multiple occasions, leaving visible scars on her arm and head. Local police also questioned her about running a private business from home, despite housefront businesses being common in the area. The economic crisis and growing restrictions on dissent in Cuba led Fuentes to sell her home and leave the country in 2023. She traveled through Central America as a man, believing it would be safer, before eventually making her way to the U.S. via Mexico. Fuentes' experience is not unique; she entered the U.S. through Texas using CBP One, an online appointment system introduced by President Joe Biden's administration that allowed migrants to live in the country for two years on humanitarian grounds. Fuentes' detention experience took a turn when she was taken into custody outside a motel in Florida after missing an immigration court hearing in Texas. She had requested that her case be moved to Florida but received no response. As a result of her situation, Fuentes found herself being placed in immigration detention with men. Her belongings were confiscated, including her wig, and she was given the uniform typically worn by male detainees. This treatment is consistent with a January 2025 executive order that mandates excluding transgender women from female prisons and detention centers. Fuentes' reaction to this development was one of shock and distress. The experience of being held in two different facilities in Florida before being transferred to Texas must have been particularly challenging for Fuentes, who said she suspected something was amiss when armed officers arrived at the facility there. Fuentes claimed that even after they boarded a flight, it wasn't until about five hours into their journey that she and other deportees on board learned they were headed to Africa. This lack of transparency has been echoed by others who shared similar experiences. The reasons behind Fuentes' deportation to Africa instead of Cuba are unclear, as the U.S. typically repatriates Cuban citizens under agreements made in 2023 despite strained relations between the two countries. Fuentes, a transgender woman who was deported from Miami, is now hiding in the Central African Republic, where she lives in a room with Cuban men who have been kind to her. The status of these deportees remains unclear, and many have had their identity documents taken away by US authorities, leaving them uncertain about their future. Meanwhile, officials at the Central African Republic's Foreign Ministry say that the deported individuals are being monitored by the International Organization for Migration, which is providing assistance to migrants in the country. The US has committed $85 million in funding this year to support IOM operations in the Central African Republic, including programs aimed at assisting migrants and stabilizing communities. IOM has stated that deportees can seek asylum in the country or request help returning home, but it has referred questions about their status to government officials. Unfortunately, several attempts to contact a spokesperson for the Central African Republic government were unsuccessful. Reports from Human Rights Watch have highlighted concerns about migrants being detained and abused in third countries, with some governments showing little regard for human rights. Fuentes' personal appearance has changed dramatically since her deportation to the Central African Republic, a stark contrast to her life in Miami where she lived openly as a transgender woman. Restrictions on Fuentes' movements have been imposed by local authorities, with officers accompanying her and other migrants to the market and on occasional outings, but limiting their freedom of movement at night. This has severely limited their ability to navigate daily life independently. With no passports or identification, Fuentes is unable to work, leaving her with little to do each day except wait for travel documents that will allow her to leave the compound where she resides. --- Source: [ABC News International](https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/deported-central-african-republic-transgender-woman-lived-openly-137085711) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/u-s-deports-transgender-woman-to-central-african-republic-with-poor/