The United States may soon initiate the deportation of migrants to Libya as part of a heightened crackdown on immigration, according to two anonymous US officials who spoke with BBC partner CBS News. These officials suggested that the US military could potentially begin flying migrants to the North African nation as early as this week, signaling a significant escalation in the US immigration policy.
This potential move is expected to generate considerable controversy. Libya has been embroiled in ongoing conflict for over a decade, and the US State Department currently advises American citizens against traveling to the country due to prevalent issues such as crime, terrorism, and widespread civil unrest. The BBC has reached out to the US State Department for an official comment on these reported migrant deportation plans.
Libya is reportedly among several nations that the administration of the previous US president had approached regarding the acceptance of migrant deportations. This week, Rwanda confirmed that it was in the “early stage” of discussions with the US on this matter, while Benin, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, and Moldova have also been mentioned in various media reports as potential destinations for US migrant deportations.
Uncertainty Shrouds Scale and Destination of Libya Deportations
Details regarding the potential number of migrants the US intends to deport to Libya remain unclear. Furthermore, the specific region within Libya where these migrants would be sent has not been disclosed. The complex political landscape of Libya, divided since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi into a UN-backed government in the west and the eastern control of Gen Khalifa Haftar, adds further uncertainty to the feasibility and safety of such deportation flights.
Notably, Gen Khalifa Haftar’s son recently met with US officials in Washington last Monday, fueling speculation about potential discussions related to migrant deportations. However, both the US State Department and a Libyan spokesperson have stated that the meeting did not involve discussions about the deportation of migrants.
Since returning to office in January, the current US president has initiated a large-scale deportation campaign, at times employing contentious tactics such as the invocation of a centuries-old wartime legal provision.
Adding to these efforts, the government recently offered migrants residing in the US without legal authorization a sum of $1,000 (£751) to voluntarily depart the country, highlighting the multi-pronged approach to US immigration enforcement. The potential deportation of migrants to Libya represents a significant and potentially controversial aspect of this ongoing US immigration crackdown.
