Adriana María Quiroz Zapata, a 55-year-old Colombian woman with multiple serious health conditions, was deported from the US to the Democratic Republic of Congo despite the DRC refusing to accept her due to inadequate medical care, US court records show [1, 2].

Quiroz Zapata suffers from diabetes, thyroid problems, hyperlipidemia, and other health issues that require ongoing treatment [1, 2]. She fled Colombia and entered the US from Mexico in August 2024, where a court granted her protection from deportation to Colombia due to a risk of persecution [1, 2].

On April 14, 2026, the Democratic Republic of Congo formally refused to accept her, citing its inability to provide the necessary medical care [2]. Nevertheless, two days later on April 16, she was placed on a removal flight from the US to the DRC by the Trump administration [2].

Since her deportation, Quiroz Zapata has been confined to a locked hotel in Kinshasa with severely limited freedom of movement. Her health has rapidly deteriorated. Medical reports describe symptoms including skin blackening and peeling, raising fears of serious complications linked to her pre-existing conditions [1].

US District Judge Richard Leon ruled on May 13 that the deportation was "likely illegal." He ordered the administration to bring Quiroz Zapata back to the US as soon as possible. Leon wrote, "There is no question that plaintiff meets the standard for irreparable harm. She has been sent to a country that refused to accept her because they cannot provide sufficient medical care. As a result, she faces a daily risk of medical complications, up to and including death" [1, 2].

Lauren O’Neal, the lawyer representing Quiroz Zapata, said the woman "is not doing well and does worry that she’s going to die" [1].

Under the Trump administration, more than 15,000 immigrants with pending asylum claims were issued third-country deportation orders to countries with no ties to the deportees, including Ecuador, Honduras, Uganda, Cameroon, and the DRC. Advocacy groups estimate only a few hundred of these deportations have been carried out [1].

The court’s order demands the Trump administration return Adriana María Quiroz Zapata to the US immediately to address her urgent medical needs [1, 2].