The United States may begin deporting migrants to Libya this week, marking a significant shift in its immigration policy despite ongoing human rights concerns surrounding the North African country, sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
According to three U.S. officials, the first deportation flights could depart as early as Wednesday, though they emphasized that the plans remain tentative. The U.S. military is expected to handle the transportation, but the Pentagon has referred queries to the White House, which, along with the Department of Homeland Security, did not immediately comment on the issue.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department declined to provide details on the diplomatic communications between the two countries. Meanwhile, Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU), which oversees the western part of the country, rejected the notion of hosting deported migrants without its prior approval. “There was no coordination with the United States regarding the reception of migrants,” the government said in a statement.
Libya’s eastern region, controlled by Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA), also opposed the potential deportation plan, claiming it would “violate the sovereignty of the homeland.” The LNA’s position reflects the broader political divide within Libya, with rival factions continuing to control separate territories since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising.
The Trump administration, which has made immigration enforcement a cornerstone of its policies, has deported over 150,000 people since taking office. The U.S. has attempted to pressure migrants into leaving voluntarily by threatening heavy fines and stripping legal status, in addition to deporting individuals to controversial destinations like Guantanamo Bay and El Salvador.
In a notable shift, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed last week that the administration was exploring additional countries for deportation beyond El Salvador, including Libya. “We want to send you some of the most despicable human beings, will you do this as a favor to us?” Rubio said, emphasizing that the further migrants are sent from the U.S., the better.
Libya, which remains politically fractured and embroiled in conflict, has long been criticized for its prison conditions, with the U.S. State Department’s annual human rights report highlighting the country’s “life-threatening prison conditions” and “arbitrary arrest or detention.” In its travel advisory, the U.S. also cautioned against visiting Libya due to ongoing violence, civil unrest, and kidnapping risks.
Despite Libya’s volatile situation, the Trump administration is reportedly exploring the feasibility of deporting migrants of various nationalities to the country. However, it remains unclear whether the U.S. has secured a formal agreement with Libyan authorities to accept such deportees.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently intervened in a case concerning the deportation of Venezuelan migrants, temporarily halting the expulsions of individuals accused of gang affiliations. This decision has raised questions about the legal process that would precede any deportations to Libya.
The Libyan government’s rejection of these deportation plans underscores the complexities of U.S. immigration policies and the challenge of finding countries willing to accept migrants against the backdrop of ongoing regional instability.
