Two men expelled from the United States to Equatorial Guinea were subjected to severe violence, including being bound, having bags placed over their heads, beaten, and pushed down stairs, according to human rights lawyers and witnesses. The alleged assault occurred in the presence of other US deportees and was followed by the men being taken to a prison.

The incident took place at the Hotel Bamy, a facility on the outskirts of Malabo that has been used to detain individuals deported from the US. Approximately 30 detainees from the US are reportedly still held at the hotel. Lawyers and detainees believe the violence was a reprisal for speaking out about poor conditions and mistreatment within the hotel.

Detainees have expressed fear of further retaliation and described experiencing flashbacks from the alleged abuse. Human rights advocates have raised concerns for months about the dangerous conditions at the Hotel Bamy, which serves as a detention center for US deportees.

The United States has deported at least 66 individuals to Equatorial Guinea from various African nations, Cuba, and Brazil. This cooperation has reportedly earned Equatorial Guinea $7.5 million as part of a deal to accept deportees whom the US cannot send to their home countries due to fears of persecution.

The Trump administration has been actively pursuing agreements with countries to take in immigrants that the US cannot directly deport to their native countries, particularly when there is a risk of torture or persecution. Previously, individuals in such situations were often allowed to remain in the US.

Human rights organizations are particularly worried about deportees sent to Equatorial Guinea, a nation with an authoritarian government known for documented human rights abuses, including torture, as noted by the US State Department.

Detainees at the Hotel Bamy have reported being held incommunicado and lacking adequate access to legal counsel. The situation highlights broader concerns about the US's deportation policies and the safety of individuals sent to countries with poor human rights records, where they may face significant danger and have no established support systems.

Human rights experts have called for greater transparency and oversight of these deportation agreements, emphasizing the potential for individuals to be trapped in precarious situations with little recourse.