The flight carried around two dozen migrants to Bangui, according to lawyers involved in the cases. The migrants included nationals from Iran, Jordan, Armenia, Türkiye, Georgia and Afghanistan.

The deportations are part of a series of agreements under which the US administration has sent migrants to countries other than their own. Immigration lawyers and rights advocates have criticized the practice, arguing that it can result in asylum seekers being indirectly returned to places where they fear persecution.

Ali Rahnama, interim executive director of the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund, said several Iranian migrants had previously received protection from deportation to Iran after judges found they had credible fears of persecution based on political or religious grounds.

Three Iranian women were initially scheduled to be deported to the Central African Republic, but two received temporary court orders preventing their removal while judges reviewed the legality of the government’s actions, according to their lawyers.

“Despite being granted withholding of removal, these individuals are being removed from the United States and abandoned in a country where they have no status, no connection and no support network,” said Emily Trostle, an attorney representing two of the women.

The US Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on specific cases, while US Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Central African Republic, one of the world’s poorest countries, has faced years of conflict involving government forces and armed groups. The country has also maintained close security ties with Russia, including through the former Wagner mercenary group.

The International Organization for Migration said it would provide humanitarian assistance after arrival at the request of Central African authorities.

The United States earlier awarded $85 million to the IOM for operations in the Central African Republic, including support for migrants and community stabilization efforts.

The incident occurred off the coast near Tobruk, where the vessel had been attempting to carry migrants toward Europe before overturning. Six bodies were recovered on Saturday after washing ashore, according to local security officials.

A total of 31 people were still unaccounted for, with search operations ongoing, the IOM said. The survivors were among a group believed to include migrants from Egypt and Sudan, officials added.

Libya remains a major transit hub for migrants seeking to reach Europe, with many undertaking perilous journeys across both desert and the Mediterranean Sea to escape conflict, instability and economic hardship.

According to United Nations data, more than 900,000 migrants are currently present across Libya’s municipalities, underscoring the scale of migration flows through the country.

The survivors, who said their vessel had initially carried 105 people, were found clinging to the wreckage of an overturned boat before being taken aboard nearby ships, according to Mediterranea Saving Humans and Sea-Watch. The bodies and survivors were later transferred to an Italian coast guard patrol boat and brought to the island of Lampedusa.

Italy’s interior ministry declined to comment on the incident, while the Italian Coast Guard did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation. The rescue took place during Easter, a major holiday in Italy.

Footage released by Sea-Watch showed migrants struggling in open waters, with several individuals holding onto the partially submerged orange hull as rescuers approached.

The central Mediterranean route, one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors, has been further complicated this year by adverse weather conditions. Rough seas have reduced the number of departures from North Africa but increased the risks for those attempting the journey.

The International Organization for Migration estimates that at least 683 people have died along the central Mediterranean route so far this year, marking one of the highest death tolls recorded since 2014.