--- title: "Transgender woman deported to Central African Republic from US" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/transgender-woman-deported-to-central-african-republic-from-us" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/transgender-woman-deported-to-central-african-republic-from-us" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/transgender-woman-deported-to-central-african-republic-from-us.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/transgender-woman-deported-to-central-african-republic-from-us" category: "Politics" area: "Africa" published: "2026-10-08T14:05:31.020Z" source_reported: "2026-10-08T09:30:22.000Z" updated: "2026-10-08T14:05:31.020Z" trust_score: 74 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-08T16:15:24.963309+00:00" --- # Transgender woman deported to Central African Republic from US *Daniela Fuentes, a Cuban national, was sent to Bangui under a US policy allowing deportations to third countries.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 74 of 100, higher is better. Trust 74: multiple named sources, official reports, specific figures, and dates support the story. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: includes quotes, clear context, specific data, and outlines future uncertainties. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: language is measured; no sensationalism beyond factual reporting. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Daniela Fuentes, a 32-year-old transgender woman from Cuba, was deported by the US to the Central African Republic on August 29. - Fuentes lived openly as a woman in Miami, working as a hairdresser and performing in drag, but now hides her identity in Bangui. - The US policy of deporting individuals to 'third countries' has been allowed to continue by the US Supreme Court. - More than 500 people, including at least 12 LGBT individuals, have been sent by the US to African countries between January 2025 and August 2026. Daniela Fuentes, a 32-year-old transgender woman from Cuba, was deported from the United States to the Central African Republic on August 29. Fuentes had been living openly as a woman in Miami, where she worked as a hairdresser and performed in drag. She is now in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, where she wears men's clothing and attempts to conceal her identity. Fuentes described her situation as difficult, stating she must hide who she is in a country where she has no ties and where advocacy groups have reported rights violations against sexual and gender minorities. She is living in a compound with other male deportees and lacks identification, which prevents her from working. The International Organization for Migration, an agency affiliated with the United Nations, provides food to Fuentes and other deportees. ## Disagreement on deportation numbers Reports differ on the number of people deported to third countries. The Washington Post stated that the US has deported about 25,000 people to more than two dozen countries that are not their own, with the vast majority sent to Mexico. This figure comes from a tally by Third Country Deportation Watch. A Human Rights Watch report cited in the Washington Post indicated that from January 2025 to August 2026, more than 500 people were sent to African countries, including at least 12 LGBT individuals. The US has not released official numbers or details on these deportations. ## What the coverage left out None of the left or centre-rated reports mentioned any specific cost estimates associated with the deportations or the support provided by the International Organization for Migration beyond food. ## Who covered it Shares of the 16 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 75% (12) - Centre: 25% (4) - Right: 0% (0) 2 of 18 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-08T16:15:24.963309+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 10 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-08T16:30:12.927Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Eleven left-rated reports focused on Daniela Fuentes' experience as a transgender woman deported to the Central African Republic. These reports highlighted her life in Miami, where she lived openly, styling hair and performing in drag, contrasting it with her current need to hide her identity in Bangui. The digests noted that she was sent to a country where transgender people have little legal protection and face marginalisation. Several left-rated digests mentioned the Human Rights Watch report stating that at least 12 LGBT individuals were among more than 500 people sent to African countries between January 2025 and August 2026. The digests also included quotes from Bridget Crawford of Immigration Equality, who called these deportations a predictable result of policies that abandon legal and moral obligations to protect LGBTQ+ immigrants. ### Centre - Four centre-rated reports highlighted Daniela Fuentes' deportation to the Central African Republic and her life in Miami. These reports detailed her experiences styling hair and performing in drag, contrasting it with her current situation in Bangui where she must hide her identity. The digests mentioned the US policy of deporting individuals to third countries and the Supreme Court's decision allowing this to continue. The centre-rated reports also included information from a Human Rights Watch report about the number of LGBT individuals deported to African nations. The Washington Top News full report provided more detail on Fuentes' background in Cuba, her journey to the US, and her detention experiences. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 8 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 7 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [NBC News](https://nbcnews.com/news/us-news/transgender-woman-deported-central-african-republic-hiding-worried-rcna602267) — Transgender woman deported to Central African Republic in hiding and worried - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/world/2026/10/deported-to-central-african-republic-a-transgender-woman-who-lived-openly-in-miami-is-hiding-again) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again – WTOP News - [mykxlg.com](https://mykxlg.com/news/world/deported-to-central-african-republic-a-transgender-woman-who-lived-openly-in-miami-is-hiding/article_267dedb4-fb1e-585d-8a70-f9275a8ebd01.html) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again - [notiziegeopolitiche.net](https://notiziegeopolitiche.net/usa-immigrazione-non-solo-eswatini-trump-deporta-persone-anche-in-repubblica-centrafricana) — USA, Immigration: Not only eSwatini. Trump Deports People Also to Central African Republic - [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/national/us-government/11203303/deported-to-central-african-republic-a-transgender-woman-who-lived-openly-in-miami-is-hiding-again.html) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again - [The Washington Post](https://washingtonpost.com/world/2026/10/08/third-country-deportations-transgender-central-african-republic/6c150ad6-c2ce-11f1-8170-681419af1cc9_story.html) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/africa/deported-to-central-african-republic-a-transgender-woman-who-lived-openly-in-miami-is-hiding-again/article_c0b02c56-8596-5394-a8e5-6e3f1b2f42e6.html) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/deported-to-central-african-republic-a-transgender-woman-who-lived-openly-in-miami-is-hiding-again) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/central-african-republic-miami-cuba-bangui-senegal-b3063188.html) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/third-country-deportations-transgender-central-african-republic-1409867a074f4e8ce660d757a05d88b4) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again - [abc News](https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/deported-central-african-republic-transgender-woman-lived-openly-137085711) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/central-african-republic-miami-cuba-bangui-senegal-b3063188.html) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again - [MSNBCTV NEWS](https://msnbctv.news/deported-to-central-african-republic-a-transgender-woman-who-lived-openly-in-miami-is-hiding-again) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again - [Durango Herald](https://durangoherald.com/articles/associated-press/deported-to-central-african-republic-a-transgender-woman-who-lived-openly-in-miami-is-hiding-agai) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/world/africa/deported-to-central-african-republic-a-transgender-woman-who-lived-openly-in-miami-is-hiding-again/article_83f1ecab-308a-5f0c-94c7-644be54e1e92.html) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again - [The Record](https://therecord.com/news/world/africa/deported-to-central-african-republic-a-transgender-woman-who-lived-openly-in-miami-is-hiding-again/article_9c557183-ec5e-555a-a554-c7bef1bca02c.html) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again - [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/world/africa/deported-to-central-african-republic-a-transgender-woman-who-lived-openly-in-miami-is-hiding-again/article_6a2273da-709e-5952-9904-af6fa19465b4.html) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/10/07/deported-to-central-african-republic-a-transgender-woman-who-lived-openly-in-miami-is-hiding-again) — Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again ## Questions **Who is Daniela Fuentes and what happened to her?** Daniela Fuentes is a 32-year-old transgender woman from Cuba who was deported from the United States to the Central African Republic on August 29. She had been living openly in Miami, but now hides her identity in Bangui. **What is the US policy that led to this deportation?** The US has a policy of deporting individuals to 'third countries' that are not their countries of origin. This policy has been allowed to continue by the US Supreme Court, and agreements are often made with receiving governments. **How many LGBT individuals have been deported to Africa?** According to a Human Rights Watch report cited in the coverage, between January 2025 and August 2026, at least 12 LGBT individuals were among more than 500 people sent by the United States to African countries. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/transgender-woman-deported-to-central-african-republic-from-us. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Transgender woman deported to Central African Republic from US", https://mediabias.news/politics/transgender-woman-deported-to-central-african-republic-from-us