Judge orders return of Colombian woman deported to Congo

U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to bring Adriana Maria Quiroz Zapata back to the United States from the Congo. Zapata, 55, allegedly entered the United States illegally from Mexico in 2024. She was recently deported to the Congo, but the African country refused to accept her, with officials citing their inability to treat her diabetes and thyroid condition. Stuck in legal limbo, Zapata was kept in a hotel in the Congo’s capital of Kinshasa and rarely allowed out, the Associated Press reported.

Leon ruled that the deportation was likely illegal because the Congo would not take her and could not provide sufficient medical care, and the ensuing medical complications could endanger her life. Her lawyer previously declared in court that she showed signs of physical deterioration while in U.S. custody prior to her deportation, including blackened skin and nails.

What happens next? It was unclear if the U.S. government intended to appeal the decision. The Associated Press did not specify if Leon gave a timeline for Zapata’s return. Zapata did not have any connections to the Congo, according to the outlet.

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