The father of Yasmany Noel Moreno de Armas, a young Cuban deported to the Central African Republic by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has released a book on Amazon Kindle. The book recounts his son's harrowing journey from the shores of Artemisa to the streets of Bangui, with stops in immigration detention centers in New Mexico and Texas.
The work, titled Deported Cuban to Africa from the U.S.: A True Story of Struggle and Separation, is authored by Hiovany Moreno Noa, a resident of South Florida. It captures the unfiltered and direct voice of the protagonist, chronicling a journey that began in September 2016 when Yasmany, then 22, set off on a makeshift raft to the United States to accompany his cousin.
Nearly a decade later, an ICE raid in West Palm Beach led to him being handcuffed and flown to Africa.
The Long and Troubled Path
Yasmany arrived in the U.S. under the "wet foot, dry foot" policy, received humanitarian parole, and applied for residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act. However, his application was denied due to parole timing issues.
ICE detained him in May 2025, and after months of being transferred between detention centers, he was put on a flight on July 30, 2026, with layovers in Senegal and Nigeria. He reached Bangui on August 1, unaware of his destination until the plane began its descent.
Life in a New Land
From the Central African capital, Yasmany took to Instagram to share videos that quickly went viral, highlighting extreme conditions such as malaria without medication, curfews, gunfire-filled nights, and even a kidnapping. "We have malaria and no medicine," he stated in one video, as reported by Univision.
The book includes these experiences and more. According to its Amazon description, it covers "curfews, nights of gunfire, the kidnapping, aid distributions, and the hope of returning," detailing the full arc of his story: "From the farms of Artemisa, Cuba, to immigration prisons in New Mexico and Texas. From the wet foot, dry foot policy to a UN detention center in Bangui, Central African Republic."
Wider Deportation Patterns
Univision reported that Yasmany himself had announced plans to document his experiences, suggesting the Kindle publication is very recent.
Yasmany's case is part of a broader pattern of deportations to third-party African countries under the Trump administration. Between June and August 2026, at least 92 individuals of various nationalities were sent to the Central African Republic on three ICE flights, with at least 31 flights to 12 African countries documented between July 2025 and August 2026.
As the book is released, another Cuban deported alongside Yasmany, Arístides Fernández García, 37, managed to leave Bangui on October 19 with assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and arrived in Bolivia two days later to reunite with his family.
Yasmany, however, remained in the Central African Republic, supporting another group of Cubans who arrived on the deportation flight that departed Alexandria Airport in Louisiana on October 22.
"I would rather be in prison [in the U.S.] than remain deported in Africa," he declared in late September, encapsulating the desperation of those sent to the other side of the world without connections, documents, or clear prospects of returning.
The case of Yasmany Moreno is one of the many that highlight the complexities of the U.S. deportation system. Stay updated on this and other immigration cases in our U.S. Immigration section.
Understanding Yasmany's Deportation and Its Implications
Why was Yasmany Moreno deported to Africa?
Yasmany was deported to Africa as part of a broader pattern of deportations to third-party countries under the Trump administration, following issues with his parole timing under U.S. immigration policies.
What is the significance of Yasmany Moreno's story?
Yasmany's story highlights the struggles and extreme challenges faced by deported individuals, bringing attention to the harsh realities of immigration policies and the impact of deportation on people's lives.
How did Yasmany's journey begin?
Yasmany's journey began in September 2016 when he left Cuba on a makeshift raft to reach the United States, motivated by the desire not to leave his cousin alone.