The Trump administration is reportedly planning to begin deporting migrants to Libya using U.S. military aircraft, a move that has sparked widespread concern due to the country’s ongoing instability and security risks, according to a CBS News report released Tuesday.
Citing two U.S. officials familiar with the matter, the report indicates that deportations could begin as early as this week. The plan marks a significant escalation of the administration’s hardline immigration stance, raising alarm among rights advocates and legal experts.
Details about which individuals would be subject to deportation remain unclear, including whether migrants would be detained by Libyan authorities upon arrival. The U.S. State Department continues to warn against travel to Libya, citing threats such as armed conflict, terrorism, civil unrest, and unexploded landmines.
The administration has recently expanded deportation efforts beyond U.S. borders, relocating third-country nationals to nations like Costa Rica and Panama. In another controversial case, Venezuelan nationals accused of gang involvement were deported to El Salvador, where some were placed in high-security detention without access to due process.
One such individual, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Venezuelan man married to a U.S. citizen and protected by a court order against deportation, was mistakenly sent to El Salvador. Despite a Supreme Court ruling and acknowledgment of the error, the U.S. has refused to facilitate his return.
Libya, still reeling from the aftermath of Muammar Gaddafi’s 2011 ouster, continues to face severe economic and political crises. Last month, UN Special Representative Hanna Tetteh told the UN Security Council that ordinary Libyans are grappling with insecurity, deep political divisions, and widespread hardship. She called for a unified international effort to help stabilize the country and build a democratic future.
Critics argue that deporting migrants to a nation in such turmoil could endanger lives and undermine international legal obligations.