Yasmany Moreno and Arístides Fernández García, two Cuban nationals deported by the United States to the Central African Republic, have shared an uplifting update through videos on Instagram: judges have reopened their cases, and their lawyers have provided optimistic news regarding their legal status.
This encouraging update comes weeks after the duo began documenting their situation in Bangui, the capital of one of the world's most impoverished and perilous nations, where they ended up as part of the third-country deportation scheme initiated by the Trump administration.
A Ray of Hope from Bangui
In their latest video, Moreno appeared alongside Fernández García to convey the progress. "The judges have reopened our cases, and the lawyers have given us good news. Thanks to everyone for sharing our videos; they've reached far and wide," Moreno expressed, visibly moved.
The 31-year-old Cuban attributed this positive turn directly to the widespread attention their social media posts have garnered, turning their ordeal into "a massive scandal." Moreno emphasized, "They're reassessing our cases and trying to prevent these mistakes from happening again, so no one else is sent here. That's all we want."
Fernández García, aged 37, also spoke, "We are very grateful for all the support we've received so far. Blessings to everyone who continues to follow us."
The Impact of Social Media as a Legal Tool
Both Cubans emphasized that public visibility has been crucial in advancing their legal situation. "Keep sharing so people won't be sent to this country anymore. Keep sharing so this gains even more momentum," urged Moreno at the video’s conclusion.
In other recent posts, Moreno has depicted daily life in the Central African Republic: workers extracting sand from rivers in canoes all day, and the Congo border visible from the shoreline. "This is the border with the Congo, Central African Republic with the Congo, those are the mountains you see. All that by the river, that's the Congo," he explained while documenting the surroundings.
The Journey to an Uncertain Destination
Moreno arrived in Florida by raft in September 2016 under the now-defunct "Wet foot, dry foot" policy. His application for residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act was denied for being submitted beyond the parole period. ICE arrested him in May 2025 and deported him on August 1, 2026, to Bangui without notifying him of the destination, which he only learned upon landing after a five-hour flight.
Fernández García was detained after a migration hearing in Miami on July 30, 2026, despite having a work permit valid until 2030 and a pending asylum application. He was moved nine times between detention centers before being placed on a plane, describing his deportation as "a kidnapping." Both assert they have no criminal records in the United States.
A Controversial Deportation Policy
The policy of deporting individuals to third countries was declared illegal by a federal judge in Massachusetts in February 2026, citing the lack of prior notice and the opportunity to contest the transfer. However, the ruling was stayed pending ongoing litigation. The agreement between the United States and the Central African Republic was signed in May 2026, involving a payment of $85 million. Between October 2025 and June 2026, over 4,000 Cubans received deportation orders in Florida alone.
"Keep sharing these videos to stop more people from being deported to these countries. They're far from their families, and that's what we ask," Moreno concluded from the riverbank dividing the Central African Republic from the Congo.
The situation of these Cuban deportees to a third country is part of an ever-evolving migration landscape. Stay updated on the latest developments in deportations, court rulings, and legal processes in our U.S. Immigration section.
Understanding Deportation to Third Countries
Why were these Cubans deported to the Central African Republic?
The deportation to the Central African Republic was part of a third-country deportation policy initiated by the Trump administration, which aimed to deport individuals to countries where the U.S. had agreements in place.
What legal developments have occurred in their cases?
Recently, judges reopened their cases, and their lawyers have communicated promising news regarding their legal status, attributed to the widespread attention their situation has received.
What role did social media play in their legal progress?
Social media played a significant role by increasing public visibility of their cases, turning them into a large-scale issue and contributing to the legal reevaluation of their situations.