Several asylum seekers deported by the United States to Sierra Leone say they face the risk of being sent back to countries where they fear persecution, despite U.S. court orders intended to prevent such removals. According to reporting cited by multiple outlets, including statements from one of the deportees’ lawyers and documents reviewed by The Associated Press, the deportees are being told they will be returned to their home states rather than allowed to pursue protection claims. The articles describe tension between the deportation process to a third country and the legal protections previously issued by U.S. courts, which had barred removals to the applicants’ feared destinations. The sources indicate that the deportees’ concerns centre on whether those court safeguards will be honoured after transfer and what steps, if any, are available to prevent further removal to the feared countries. The reports are based on lawyer accounts and documentary material, and they highlight the uncertainty faced by the deported individuals as authorities in Sierra Leone and the U.S. process their cases.