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Trump Administration Considers First Migrant Deportations to Libya Using Military Flights

U.S. officials report deportations could begin this week, though legal, logistical, and diplomatic uncertainties remain unresolved.

In this January 30 photo, migrants are deported using a US military plane in El Paso, Texas.
President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a swearing-in ceremony for Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in the Oval Office at the White House on May 6, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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Overview

  • The Trump administration is planning to deport migrants to Libya, with flights potentially operated by the U.S. military starting as early as this week.
  • It is unclear whether a formal agreement has been secured with Libyan authorities to accept deportees from third countries.
  • Libya's detention centers have been widely condemned by human rights groups for conditions described as abusive, life-threatening, and lacking due process protections.
  • The U.S. has approached several other nations, including Angola, Rwanda, and Moldova, for third-country deportation agreements as part of its broader immigration deterrence strategy.
  • The State Department has previously criticized Libya for arbitrary detention practices and harsh prison conditions, raising significant human rights concerns about the proposed deportations.