Grijalva urges return of Arizona man deported in April

Court orders Soliman’s return

Rep. Adelita Grijalva called for the immediate and safe return of Ahmed Soliman after a court ordered the U.S. government to bring him back from Equatorial Guinea. Soliman, an Egyptian national who lived in Arizona, has remained in the Central African country since he was deported there in April.

Grijalva said the deportation was unlawful and placed Soliman’s life in danger. She urged the federal government not to prolong the legal proceedings and called on the Trump administration to suspend deportations to third countries, meaning countries other than a person’s nation of origin.

The congresswoman also said the administration must follow federal and international protections intended to prevent people from being sent to places where they could face persecution, torture or other serious harm.

Questions over detention and deportation

Soliman’s lawyers said they believe his arrest was retaliation for speaking out about detention conditions and police violence he said he experienced. Grijalva has advocated for his return since learning about his case.

Immigration lawyers say the Trump administration has used deportations to third countries to indirectly push asylum seekers toward their countries of origin. Equatorial Guinea is among at least eight African countries that have entered into such an arrangement with the United States.

Equatorial Guinea has substantial oil resources and is one of Africa’s wealthier countries. U.S. officials have also identified corruption and human rights abuses there.