US deports gay asylum seeker to a country where homosexuality is illegal

Lawyers say a 21-year-old Moroccan woman who sought asylum in the U.S. was removed despite an immigration judge's protection order and is now back in Morocco and living in hiding.

Farah, a 21-year-old Moroccan woman who is gay, sought asylum in the United States after leaving Morocco. An immigration judge issued a protection order saying she could not be returned to Morocco. Despite that order, U.S. authorities removed her to a third country and she has since returned to Morocco, where she is reported to be in hiding. U.S. officials have confirmed removals to Cameroon and said they are enforcing existing law. Key known facts: - Lawyers say Farah received a judge's protection order but was nonetheless removed from the United States and flown to a third country before returning to Morocco. - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has confirmed removals to Cameroon and stated it is applying the law as written. - Farah is reported to be back in Morocco and living in hiding; the next legal or procedural steps are undetermined at this time. Summary: Lawyers and reports say a woman who had a protection order from a U.S. immigration judge was removed to a third country and is now back in Morocco and in hiding. Undetermined at this time.