US Government Considers Deploying Immigrants to Libya Through Military Transport

The Trump administration is planning to transport a group of immigrants to Libya on a U.S. military plane, marking another escalation in the deportation program. The program has faced widespread legal challenges and intense political debate. The nationalities of the migrants are unclear, but the flight to Libya could take place as soon as Wednesday. Officials have spoken anonymously about the operation. The decision to send deportees to Libya is surprising given the conflict and poor conditions in its network of migrant detention centers. The move aligns with the Trump administration’s efforts to deter migrants from entering the country and send a strong message to those already in the country. The operation is subject to logistical, legal, or diplomatic obstacles, and the White House, State Department, and Defense Department did not immediately respond to comments. The potential use of Libya as a destination follows previous controversies, including the deportation of Venezuelans to El Salvador. The State Department advises against traveling to Libya due to crime, terrorism, unexploded land mines, and civil unrest. The United States has formal relations only with the Tripoli government, but Mr. Haftar’s son recently met with Trump administration officials. Libya operates numerous detention facilities for refugees and migrants, with human rights groups describing them as horrific. European governments have been complicit in the treatment of migrants by working with Libya. The Trump administration has previously deported people to Panama and Costa Rica, with lawsuits arguing that the deportations and subsequent detention could cause irreparable harm. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is working to secure similar agreements with additional nations. The use of a military plane for the flight to Libya follows previous assistance by the Defense Department in transporting migrants to locations such as India, Guatemala, and Ecuador. Zolan Kanno-Youngs contributed to the reporting.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/06/us/politics/trump-libya-migrants.html