Ice flies African asylum seekers to Nairobi in last-minute deportation push

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stepped up removals of Africans and could send a final flight on Tuesday

The Trump administration is continuing to deport African asylum seekers in its last few days before the inauguration of Joe Biden, who has promised a 100-day suspension of deportations, amid allegations of abuse of detainees, insufficient legal protections and inadequate precautions against Covid infection.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) confirmed a removal flight" left Louisiana on Thursday bound for Nairobi. The charter plane believed to be carrying Somali, Ethiopian and Kenyan deportees made a refuelling stop in Sofia. Immigrant support activists believe the deportees were transferred to commercial planes in Nairobi for transfer to other countries.