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Cuban Miami Resident Describes Deportation to Central African Republic After ICE Stop
Yasmany Moreno, 32, who lived in Miami for nine years, recounts being deported to the Central African Republic after a traffic stop led to ICE custody. DHS cites his traffic record, while the State Department warns against travel to the CAR.
MIAMI â A 32-year-old Cuban man who spent nearly a decade building a life in Miami is speaking out about his abrupt removal to the Central African Republic, a country the U.S. government warns its citizens not to visit.
Yasmany Moreno, who arrived in the United States by raft in 2016, told reporters through tears that he was living with his family and working at food processing centers and in a trucking business when a traffic stop changed everything. After nine years in Miami, Moreno was taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody and, without warning, placed on a flight.
âAfrica? I was, like, in shock,â Moreno said in Spanish, describing the moment he learned mid-flight that his destination was across the Atlantic.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Moreno had a record of five traffic offenses, including driving with a suspended license. The agency defended its action, stating that âthird country removals are an essential public safety tool that remove the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens from our streets.â
Advocates for immigrant communities argue that such removals raise serious humanitarian concerns, particularly when the destination is a nation under a âDo Not Travelâ advisory. The U.S. State Department warns Americans against travel to the Central African Republic due to risks of unrest, crime, kidnapping, landmines, health hazards, and terrorism.
Morenoâs case highlights the increasingly severe consequences of traffic stops for undocumented immigrants and the Trump administrationâs push to deport individuals to third countries regardless of their ties to the United States. For Miamiâs large Cuban community, Morenoâs story is a stark reminder of the fragility of life for those without legal status, even after years of contributing to the local economy.
Morenoâs family in Miami declined to comment on the record, but community organizers say they are seeking answers about his current conditions and whether he has access to legal representation. The Central African Republic has a limited U.S. diplomatic presence, and it remains unclear what support, if any, Moreno has received since his arrival.
As Morenoâs ordeal continues, his case underscores the human stakes of immigration enforcement policies that critics say prioritize removal over due process and safety.