Plaintiffs allege straitjackets and shackles for 16 hours as case tests third-country removals

A lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington by five West African migrants alleges they and others were restrained in straitjackets and shackled for roughly 16 hours aboard a U.S. military cargo flight to Ghana on Sept. 5, given only bread and water, and not told their destination for hours. According to the complaint, the group was taken from an ICE facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, and is now held in a Ghanaian open-air site known as Dema Camp, where conditions are described as squalid. The plaintiffs, three from Nigeria and two from The Gambia, say one man has already been sent to The Gambia despite expressing fear of return.

Third-country removals under scrutiny

None of the 14 deportees on the flight were Ghanaian, and the five plaintiffs say they did not identify Ghana as a potential country of removal. Their filing argues U.S. officials are sidestepping immigration judges who granted protection from return to their home countries by sending them instead to third countries, including several in Africa and Central America. The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately comment on the case.

Balancing border enforcement with humane standards

The United States has a clear obligation to enforce immigration laws, maintain credible deterrence, and protect public safety. Restraints may be used in transport for security, but they must be necessary, proportional, and subject to strict oversight. Washington should ensure transparent protocols for removals, independent monitoring of in-flight practices, and documented assurances that partner countries meet basic care standards. Ghana is a valued security and economic partner, and any credible allegations merit prompt review to safeguard both human dignity and vital bilateral cooperation.

Ghana confirms arrivals, weighs regional implications

Ghana’s president confirmed the arrival of 14 deportees last week. Accra joins Eswatini, Rwanda, and South Sudan in receiving non-nationals removed from the U.S., a policy approach that has drawn legal challenges from advocacy groups. For Ghana, participation carries diplomatic sensitivities at home and across West Africa, even as it seeks to maintain close ties with Western partners on security, trade, and migration management.

What comes next

The plaintiffs seek an emergency order to halt onward transfers and to clarify the lawful scope of third-country removals. The court’s decision could shape how Washington coordinates future returns with African partners. For the sake of stability and the integrity of U.S. policy, clear intergovernmental agreements, humane transport standards, and adherence to immigration court rulings will be essential.