Equatorial Guinea Police Point Guns at Migrants Trump Deported There

Police in Equatorial Guinea pointed what appeared to be semi-automatic rifles at U.S.-deported migrants on Sept. 5, 2026, at a hotel in Malabo where deportees are held, according to three witnesses and video reviewed by Reuters. The confrontation began as a dispute over confiscated phones; deportee Ahmed Soliman said officers "cocked their guns" and ordered him to his knees for 10 to 15 minutes before a hotel manager defused the standoff.

The 31 deportees held there are among 53 people the U.S. has sent to Equatorial Guinea since November 2025 under third-country deportation deals, many after immigration judges found they could face torture if returned home. A DHS spokesperson said the administration is "utilizing all lawful options" to carry out deportations and its responsibility ends once someone leaves ICE custody.

Reuters said it could not verify what preceded the confrontation. Lawyers for the deportees said the incident underscores safety concerns at the facility, where detainees have also reported inadequate medical care and denial of legal access.