A federal judge has ordered the United States to bring back a 55-year-old Colombian woman who was flown to the Democratic Republic of Congo, finding that her removal likely violated the law. Adriana Maria Quiroz Zapata, who has chronic medical conditions, was among a group of migrants sent to Kinshasa and is now at the center of a rare court fight over third-country deportations. The ruling sets off a legal and diplomatic scramble over whether the government can unwind the flight and return her to U.S. custody.
As reported by The New York Times, the judge's order, which was shared with reporters by Ms. Zapata's lawyer, concluded that the administration had most likely broken the law by sending her to the D.R.C. and directed her return to U.S. custody. The ruling itself did not appear on the public court docket late Wednesday.
Court Filings Detail Long Immigration Fight And Health Decline
Court filings dating back to 2025 trace Ms. Zapata's complex removal history. She received withholding of removal under the Convention Against Torture, yet a prior removal order against her was reinstated and she remained in ICE custody. The record also describes how her health worsened while detained: she developed diabetes and was treated for hyperlipidemia and hypothyroidism. At one point, ICE attempted to leave her in Mexico without returning her passport or her medications, according to Habeas Dockets.
Third-Country Removals Turn Into Legal And Diplomatic Flashpoint
The Zapata case is unfolding as the administration leans on a strategy of finding third countries willing to accept migrants whom the United States cannot send back to their home countries. That approach has already triggered lawsuits and diplomatic friction. Earlier episodes, including the mistaken deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and subsequent court orders demanding his return, show how quickly removals can land back in federal court, as documented by NPR.
Congo Backs Away Over Medical Care Concerns
According to The New York Times, Congolese officials initially agreed to accept certain deportees but later told U.S. authorities they could not take Ms. Zapata because they were unable to guarantee appropriate medical care for her. The report says Ms. Zapata and several other migrants are being housed in a hotel outside Kinshasa while diplomats and lawyers sort through what happens next.
What The Ruling Puts On The Line
Legal observers say the order could become a test case for how far courts can go in requiring the executive branch to reverse a transfer to another country and whether diplomatic or logistical hurdles can excuse noncompliance. The court record lays out key precedents along with statutory limits on post-removal detention and on the government's removal authority, which will shape any fight over enforcement; see Habeas Dockets for the legal background.
For now, the ruling hands Ms. Zapata's legal team a clear, early win and puts time pressure on the administration to either arrange her return or launch a rapid legal response. Actually bringing her back would require coordination between U.S. and Congolese officials and could trigger appeals that send the dispute climbing through the federal courts.
