U.S. Deports Togolese Woman to Ghana Despite Judge's Ruling Against Return to Togo

U.S. officials deported a woman to Ghana after she fled Togo, where she had been subjected to genital mutilation. A federal judge had ruled that the woman should not be deported to Togo. Officials sent her to Ghana instead, which then returned her to Togo.

The case involves a woman who sought protection in the United States after leaving Togo. The judge's ruling specified that deportation to Togo was not permitted. Despite that order, the Trump administration arranged deportation to the neighboring country of Ghana.

Ghanaian authorities did not accept the deportation on a permanent basis. They returned the woman to Togo after her arrival. The sequence of events occurred following the judge's decision blocking direct deportation to her home country.

The woman first left Togo to escape genital mutilation.

She later faced removal proceedings in the United States. Officials proceeded with deportation to Ghana after the court blocked return to Togo. The Trump administration carried out the transfer to Ghana. Ghanaian officials subsequently sent her onward to Togo. The full sequence took place in recent weeks.

Background on the Case Genital mutilation remains a practice in parts of Togo and other countries. The woman cited this risk as grounds for protection in the United States. The federal judge agreed that deportation directly to Togo would violate the terms of her case.

U.S. officials selected Ghana as an alternative destination. That country did not maintain the arrangement. The woman was returned to Togo, completing the deportation process.