Nicaraguan immigrant Luis Carlos Mendoza-Santamaría was deported to Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, after attending a routine immigration appointment to provide fingerprints, according to a September 1 report by N+ Univision Washington DC.
Mendoza-Santamaría stated he was unaware of his destination until an airline crew member informed him he was traveling to Central Africa. He currently remains in police custody in Bangui and reported facing difficulties communicating due to language barriers and a lack of basic resources.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Mendoza-Santamaría on February 19, 2026, in compliance with a final removal order. According to DHS, Mendoza-Santamaría entered the United States illegally on September 15, 2018, and was released on bond on October 19 of that year.
ICE stated that Mendoza-Santamaría was deported from the United States on August 28, 2026, and denied that he held any approved immigration status that would protect him from deportation.
Mendoza-Santamaría's family disputes the government's account, claiming he had been granted protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) since 2013, which would have prevented his deportation to Nicaragua. His relatives stated that he had attended periodic immigration appointments for years to renew work permits and that he was protected by a judicial order.
Immigration attorney Kelley Ortega noted that under previous administrations, individuals with CAT protection could remain in the United States legally with work permits through monitoring. Ortega suggested the case reflects a stricter application of immigration laws under the current administration.
Mendoza-Santamaría is currently waiting in Bangui for the arrival of his passport, which ICE indicated would be sent in the coming days. He is seeking a way to leave Central Africa to settle in another country in the Americas. His family expressed concern regarding his ability to access services like bank accounts without documentation.
