Attorney Joseph Ava Fru, representing part of the group, reported that the first nine migrants were sent from a detention center in Louisiana last month, while the remaining eight arrived on February 16. Among the deported are citizens of Ghana, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, and Senegal, while two Moroccan citizens chose to return to their homeland; the others remain in Cameroon.
According to lawyers, many of these individuals are experiencing significant stress and anxiety following their deportation.
Under U.S. laws, migrants who may face persecution in their home countries can only be sent to a third country by court order. However, lawyers claim that the court has already recognized the high risk to their clients and prohibited their expulsion.
Attorney Elma David stated that the migrants were deported without prior notice and the opportunity to appeal.
This week, attorney Fru brought journalists, including those from the Associated Press, to the facility where the migrants are held. However, during the meeting, police detained them, as well as four journalists, seizing their equipment and accusing them of illegally obtaining information. They were later released, but their equipment was not returned.
Information about the agreement between the U.S. and Cameroonian governments regarding the reception of deported individuals remains unknown. The U.S. State Department declined to comment on the legal status of the migrants.
As noted by WSJ, this situation has drawn criticism in Cameroon, where President Paul Biya is accused of turning the country into a "recipient" for deported migrants.
It was also previously reported that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to convert 23 industrial buildings into migrant detention centers with a total capacity of up to 80,000 people. These plans have raised concerns among local residents and authorities due to potential issues with living conditions and infrastructure.
